This year’s Hajj season, 1445 AH, will witness a first-of-its-kind experiment as the Kingdom plans to test flying taxis as part of modern transportation models during the pilgrimage.
Minister of Transport Saleh Al-Jasser stated that the Kingdom will test flying taxis and drones among modern transportation models during this year’s Hajj season.
In an interview with Al Arabiya, Al-Jasser added that there is currently a competition among companies to provide the best flying taxi product, and it has become important to learn about these technologies and experiment with adapting them to the environment and operating conditions.
Saudi Arabian Airlines previously contracted with the German company Lilium in October 2022 to supply 100 emission-free electric aircraft for use in the Saudi Arabian domestic airline network, according to a statement on Lilium’s website.
In January, Saudi Arabian Airlines announced its readiness to use flying taxis as a new means of transportation during Hajj seasons.
The flying taxis are planned to transport passengers between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and hotels in Makkah. The service will involve transporting between 4 and 6 passengers per vehicle.
Header image credit: First electric air taxi in Saudi Arabia – Saudi Press Agency.
