Cab Riding Major, Uber Technologies Inc has reopened a contest aimed at selecting the first international city to launch its proposed flying taxi project post apparent delays in getting the service off the ground in Dubai, a previously proposed market.
Dubbed as UberAir, the service proposes to launch denominator flights starting 2020 and begin paid intercity operations in 2023, a company spokesperson reported.
Last year, cities like Dallas and Los Angeles were named as first launch cities by American Cab Rider, and now Uber is looking yet again for an international metropolis to take part informed Jeff Hedon, CEO at annual Elevate Summit held in Los Angeles.
How will the way you move around your city change in the next decade? With UberAIR, your futuristic fantasy might be a reality…and a breath of fresh air for urban mobility issues. Tune in to #Elevate18: https://t.co/D9GzazYhLl pic.twitter.com/nGDXUCHmyp
— Uber (@Uber) May 9, 2018
The company is targeting cities with a metropolitan population greater than 2 million people with a dispersed population, airport nearby which is willing to back pooled ridesharing services.
Uber had earlier named Dubai as its third launch city but reported on Tuesday that it has reopened its selection process to incorporate cities which fit in its requirement for showcasing flying taxis yo help relieve urban congestion.
Uber’s mega flying taxi project proposed to hit by 2020 is aimed at speed development of a new electric, on-demand service which customers might avail via smartphones similar to the way it has popularised ground-based taxi alternatives since it first launched in 2011.
The San Franciso based company envisions a fleet of electric jet-powered vehicles -part drone, part helicopter and part wing aircraft – running multiple small rotors capable of both vertical take-off and landing and rapid horizontal flight.
Meanwhile, Uber is also working to seek approvals from aviation regulators around the world marking a break from the odds it had earlier faced with authorities.