Frankfurt International Airport operator Fraport AG has partnered with drone manufacturer Volocopter GmbH to explore the potential for establishing an air-taxi service serving air travellers.
The “Volocopter Port” is envisioned as a way to “link existing urban transportation junctions with one another and provide connections to and from Frankfurt Airport,” according to a press release.
“Autonomous flying will fundamentally change aviation in the years to come,” said Anke Giesen, Fraport AG’s executive board member for operations.
“We want to be the first airport in Europe to harness the potential of electric air taxis in partnership with pioneer Volocopter for the benefit of our passengers and the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region.”
The airport and drone manufacturer will collaborate on developing concepts for the ground infrastructure and operational changes needed to launch an air taxi service.
Fraport already has experience operating unmanned drones: the airport’s FraDrones program has been testing vertical-takeoff “multicopters” for use in urban transport.
Volocopter, for its part, has produced a drone capable of carrying two people.
“Providing the ideal connection between the city center and the airport poses a huge challenge for the world’s major cities,” said Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter.
“Together with Fraport AG, we are excited to pioneer the implementation of an air taxi service at one of Europe’s most important airports.”
