National carrier, Kenya Airways, has disclosed when flying taxis will start operating in the country in its new diversification strategy under the Fahari Aviation programme.
According to the airline Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka, the flying taxis will be launched in 2025.
Speaking on Thursday, February 24, the CEO noted that the flying taxis will employ the use of vertical take-off and landing, which is a new technology that uses electric energy to hover.
The car's innovative capability of taking off just like aircraft and landing vertically is ideal in beating heavy traffic jam that is usually experienced in most parts of the city.
The new technology, according to Kenya Airways, will also be introduced to other parts of the country as the flying cars will be able to move easier and faster while avoiding traffic jam.
“We are working on a future, 2025 onwards to see how we can support urban mobility,” Kivaluka stated.
He, however, did not reveal the amount the taxis will be charging within and outside Nairobi after the launch.
KQ launched its subsidiary - Fahari Aviation - as a way of expanding its revenue base through a training course in operating drones for surveillance and agricultural support.
The concept of the flying taxi is being implemented in most cities, especially in parcel deliveries, medical assistance, and even for recreational purposes.
The introduction of the flying taxis follows a deal penned between Kenya Airways and Brazilian plane maker, Embraer SA.
The aim of the deal was to introduce zero-emission electric aircraft known as Electric Vertical Aircraft (EVA) into the transport sector.
"The creation of disruptive and accessible solutions in urban air mobility will help democratize movement," Andre Stein, CEO of Embraer's unit Urban Air Mobility Solutions stated.
At the moment, the country especially is grappling with monumental traffic jams that lead to loss of billions of shillings in revenue. In Nairobi, several roads have been constructed to ease movement including the latest addition, the Nairobi Expressway.
But even with all the road projects, traffic jam still remains a major problem in the city. With the introduction of flying taxis, the problem might be reduced with a bigger margin and especially for those heading to the airport.
