98% of Frequent Fliers in the U.S. Would Try an Electric Air Taxi, a New Survey Says
The electric air-taxi movement has received a big vote of confidence in future operations, if a recent survey by Honeywell is accurate. The multinational conglomerate, with a large aerospace division, said that 98 percent of U.S. airline fliers would consider taking an electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft as part of future travel plans. Honeywell surveyed 1,000 U.S. adult fliers. Nearly 80 percent said they would travel more often if they could take an air taxi to the airport.
“Air taxis can offer a safe, fast and innovative alternative to traditional transport methods,” said David Shilliday, vice president and general manager of Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, in a statement. “Our research indicates significant appetite for such services already exists—but like any new technology, consumers need to feel confident about safety, cost, and reliability. Air taxis may sound like science fiction to some, but we’re not far from a time when they could become a regular part of travel.”
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EVTOL manufacturer Joby told Verticalmag.com last summer that it plans to begin U.S. operations with its four-seat air taxi sometime this year. Competitor Archer also has plans to begin operations with its Midnight aircraft in Abu Dhabi by the end of this year. Last month, it received FAA certification to train its pilots. Competitors in Europe, such as Vertical Aerospace and Volocopter, are also moving toward certification. China-based e-Hang has already certified its two-person, autonomous air taxi with that country’s aviation authority. A dozen other manufacturers around the world are also moving toward testing and certification.
The Honeywell report said that millennials are most enthusiastic about flying in an air taxi (65 percent), compared to 58 percent of overall respondents. Sixty-seven percent of people who flew more than 10 times in the past year said they would take an air taxi, while business travelers outweighed those who were flying for pleasure (60 percent v. 45 percent).
Nearly half gave “not having to sit in traffic” as a key motivator, while convenience and cost (61 percent) were also cited as reasons. The fun factor, or “novelty/curiosity” were cited by 44 percent of the respondents. Most said they would use them to fly between cities, such as New York and Philadelphia, which would cut travel time by two-thirds compared to driving. Travel from a suburban airport to a city center (31 percent) or traveling to a connecting flight in a nearby city (28 percent) were also the reasons given. Almost two thirds of the respondents underlined safety as a critical consideration.
Despite the enthusiasm among fliers, the annual NATS 2024 Aviation Index said that two-thirds of the population had never heard of eVTOLs, and of the third that knew about them, 30 percent said they were “not at all likely” to use them. About half cited safety concerns, and 56 percent said it would be “too expensive.”
A spokesperson at NATS noted that “the idea of jumping on an eVTOL is less appealing to most, and shows why public acceptance must be a priority if advanced air mobility is ready to take off.”
“While cost is a valid concern, it’s important to emphasize that eVTOL technology, like many early-stage innovations, will become more accessible as it matures,” James Richmond, head of future flight at AtkinsRéalis, which leads the U.K.’s Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium, told aerospaceglobalnews.com. “Additionally, eVTOL designs offer advantages over traditional aircraft for similar applications, such as quieter operation, less maintenance, and greater autonomy, which could aid in scalability and ultimately lower prices over time.”
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