Hyundai to start Urban Air Mobility test flights

MANILA: Flying over traffic to get to work may soon be a reality if Hyundai had its way.

After presenting its proposal for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) early this year to the media, the Korean automaker has now partnered with Incheon International Airport (IIA) to speed up the development of the UAM by starting test flights with the aim of commercializing it by 2028.

This project is a public-private joint demonstration of the Korean government, and Hyundai Motor and its partners that provide the basis for jointly studying the construction and operation of vertiports, airports for UAMs.

Hyundai will concentrate on developing the UAM business and securing business cases while IIA will work on the infrastructure and study feasibility of utilizing UAM as airport shuttles. Hyundai’s construction arm will utilize its expertise to build vertiports as well as the transit hub that will connect UAM to other public transportations. KT Corporation will set up the communications infrastructure and make business cases for UAM as a mobility service. All four parties will be sharing necessary information during the development as well as jointly working on test flights.

“The breadth and depth of this partnership shows what it will take to build a comprehensive UAM ecosystem to serve megacities like Seoul. Building a robust infrastructure and business model is just as important as developing innovative UAM vehicles. This partnership demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to facilitating progress for humanity by ushering in a new era of urban air mobility that will revolutionize transportation,” said Hyundai Motor Executive Vice President and Head of Urban Air Mobility Division Jaiwon Shin.

Photos from Hyundai

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