Following the news that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between Airbus and ITA Airways to build a sustainable solution for urban aerial transport;

James Marques, Associate Aerospace, Defence and Security Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“CityAirbus Next-Gen is a four-seat, fixed-wing vertical takeoff or landing (VTOL) aircraft running on fully electric power, currently in development as a solution for affordable, short-range transport option for urban and densely populated areas. The deal signed between ITA Airways and Airbus commits to a joint exploration of options for tailored ‘urban air mobility’ (UAM services), seeking to prove the concept of a carbon-neutral air taxi to the public and eventually onboard local stakeholders.

“A small, lightweight craft being used as a form of urban transportation has arguably moved from being an ‘if’ question to a ‘when’. There is space in the market for simple and economical aircraft that can operate in a city environment with little disruption and high efficiency, and the ‘multicopter’ has the added benefit of being environmentally sustainable – a solution many countries, companies and investors will find attractive as climate change continues to be a growing concern.

“‘Flying taxis’, as UAM vehicles are sometimes known, can operate from simple landing pads that are already prolific in urban areas and help ease ground traffic congestion. However, the additional infrastructure, airspace management systems and potential noise pollution issues will need to be sorted before UAMs are commonplace. The UK’s new ‘Vertiport’ opened in April in Coventry is one example of potential hubs for money-making activity that may become more commonplace as UAMs gain popularity.

“To make UAM services viable for the near-future, competitors will be focusing on affordability, convenience, safety and sustainability. Partnering with Airbus may give Italian markets a head-start in making cities more accessible from the air as well as making them more efficient and cleaner – a crucial part of a wider long-term move to ‘decarbonise’ the aviation industry. This deal follows a slew of similar agreements worldwide, such as Joby Aviation’s ongoing development of a comparable aircraft design that has received funding from Toyota, Intel and Uber.”