The dream of autonomous flying taxis transporting spectators during the Paris Olympics was an exciting one. Imagine electric-powered aircraft silently gliding over the city, revolutionizing public transport. However, this vision did not become a reality due to certification delays.
The Volocopter, a German-designed aircraft intended to carry Olympic fans, was unable to obtain necessary approval in time. However, its developers haven’t lost hope. On the final day of the 2024 Olympics, they performed a test flight over Versailles. The aircraft, carrying only baggage, took off from the historic gardens where the first hot-air balloon ascended in 1783.
The Paris region had ambitious plans to operate a fleet of these air taxis during the Games, with five routes designed to connect key locations, including a platform on the Seine River. Volocopter’s CEO, Dirk Hoke, hoped to make French President Emmanuel Macron the first passenger. However, the project stalled when Paris’s airport authority, ADP, failed to secure timely certification from Europe’s air safety agency.
Despite this setback, manufacturers of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) remain optimistic. Volocopter aims to receive clearance to carry passengers over Paris by December, coinciding with the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. Meanwhile, competitors are focusing on making flying taxis a reality at the next Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
The future of air mobility remains bright, even if the Paris Olympics missed out on the flying taxi experience.
Photo and video credit: volocopter.com
