Marking a milestone in its roadmap to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Saudi Arabia has completed the first air taxi trial in Mecca, setting the scene for deployment in the coming years and transforming Hajj transportation. AAM solutions are projected to support tens of thousands of pilgrims and generate tens of millions in revenue by 2030.
The eVTOL trial featured an EH216-S pilotless aircraft and was led by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Ministry of Hajj, the Ministry of Interior and Front End Ltd Company.
His Excellency Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, enthused that the trial is a pivotal step towards a faster, more efficient and sustainable Hajj travel. “Saudi Arabia is leveraging pioneering technologies to empower pilgrims with a seamless and sustainable pilgrimage experience.”
Conducted in protected airspace in a low-risk area, the trial is set to redefine the Hajj experience by enhancing mobility, reducing congestion and promoting sustainability. It also paves the way through invaluable insights and technical data to support GACA’s development of an AAM roadmap. By significantly reducing travel and delivery times, air taxis can accelerate the mobility of pilgrims and goods and improve emergency medical services during Hajj.
Describing the air taxi trial as a “major advancement” in integrating AAM solutions into Saudia Arabia’s aviation landscape, HE Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of GACA, underlined: “GACA is committed to enabling new safe and sustainable forms of air transport, elevating travel for pilgrims and passengers across Saudi Arabia. This trial acts as a proof of concept for multiple use cases and contributes to the advancement of mobility solutions across the Kingdom.”
Reaffirming its position as a front runner in the AAM space, Saudia Arabia has invested hundreds of millions into AAM solutions to scale the sector, as the Saudi Aviation Strategy (SAS) transforms the Kingdom into the Middle East’s leading aviation hub by 2030. The strategy is unlocking more than $100 billion of investment, with passenger numbers, growing by 26% in 2023 to 112 million.
