Kenya Airways on Wednesday, August 11, signed an agreement with Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA to introduce flying taxis in Nairobi as part of the airliner's commitment to spearhead technology and innovation within the market.
According to international publications, the aim of the deal is also to introduce zero-emission electric aircraft known as Electric Vertical Aircraft (EVA) into the transport sector.
Andre Stein, CEO of Embraer's unit Urban Air Mobility Solutions, pointed out that the introduction of flying taxis would offer an alternative mode of transport for passengers who are pressed for time.
According to Stein, passengers travelling to and from the Central Business District (CBD) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) would take an average of six minutes.
"The creation of disruptive and accessible solutions in urban air mobility will help democratize movement," Stein stated.
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EVA aircraft incorporates advanced technology and are primarily used for private and public mobility.
The aircraft is fitted with engines guaranteed for one million kilometres of flight.
It has 26 fully electric propellers of different sizes: larger propellers as well as smaller propellers which are located under the wing.
EVAs carry two passengers or a load of 250 kilograms at 400 kilometres per hour with a range of 250 kilometres.
Further, the aircraft is completely autonomous – it needs no intervention of a human pilot as it flies under the control of automatic systems such as Radar, Lidar, and 12 camera sensors.
The seats are also fitted with parachutes in case of any issues encountered when flying.
Earlier in the year, Kenya Airways made a groundbreaking move after it received approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to convert Boeing 787, a passenger Dreamliner, into a cargo plane.
The approval has enabled the airliner to increase its carrying capacity by over 100 tonnes.
