Denmark to Build Vertiports, Infrastructure for Air Taxis

HCA Airport and Copenhagen Helicopter have allied to build infrastructure for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL). The partnership aims to develop at least one vertiport in Odense, the third largest city in Denmark, for transporting passengers between the country’s main cities.

“I foresee that in a few years time you can take the light rail to Odense Station and from there take a flying taxi to Copenhagen or other Danish cities. Now is the time to start building a brand-new infrastructure based initially on manned flying taxis that fly on green power and contribute to the government’s goal of achieving 100% green domestic transport by 2030,” says Kim Kenlev, Chairman, HCA Airport.

The partnership also plans to bring foreign Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operators to HCA Airport, either for testing and demonstration activities or for longer-term service and maintenance. HCA Airport is a small air terminal in Odense that is already home to the UAS Denmark Test Center, an internationally recognized drone test site.

“AAM is based on a new revolution in aviation that says goodbye to fossil fuels in favor of electrification and biofuels – which we already know from the transition from traditional cars to hybrid and electric cars, and later self-driving cars. It offers a whole new opportunity to transport people on a daily basis via the skies, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing noise levels and much more,” says Martin Andersen, CEO, Copenhagen Helicopter. In Denmark only, the AAM field has the capabilities to transport 84,000 passengers per day, while removing 120,000 tons of CO2 from Danish roads by 2035, adds Andersen.

Odense mayor Peter Rahbæk Juel believes that the flying taxis of the future can fly on green power produced by Danish offshore wind turbines, and can help shift traffic away from the roads. Juel sees this as the beginning of a new business venture that will generate jobs, contribute to the green transition and create a whole new way to transport people.

Denmark is not the only country investing in urban air mobility (UAM). South Korea and Germany, for example, have already developed advanced frameworks for the introduction of flying taxis. In the US, Boeing has invested US$450 million in Wisk Aero, a Silicon Valley company developing a self-flying propeller aircraft.

Aerospace and automotive companies and suppliers around the world continue betting on UAM to eventually become commonplace. Recently, automaker giant Stellantis and Archer Aviation announced an agreement to significantly expand their partnership by joining forces to manufacture Archer’s flagship electric aircraft, Midnight, as reported by MBN. Furthermore, Israel-based startup AIR announced that it completed the first successful unmanned test flight of its flying vehicle prototype, a milestone that will help it reach the market within the next two years, reported MBN.

While UAM remains a large challenge, it is also a megatrend attracting major industry players. “Honeywell is investing to develop new technologies for this market, which is new for everyone. While we do not know exactly when it will arrive, we are certain that it will become a reality,” says to MBN Rogerio Botelho, Director of Program Management, Honeywell Aerospace.