After Dallas and Los Angeles, the Victorian capital will hold Uber Air trials. Its commercial launch is expected only in 2023.
The electric taxis will be able to transport people between cities for the price of UberX as the company stated.
“Australian governments have adopted a forward-looking approach to ridesharing and future transport technology,” said Regional general manager for Uber in Australia, New Zealand, and North Asia Susan Anderson.
“This, coupled with Melbourne’s unique demographic and geospatial factors, and culture of innovation and technology, makes Melbourne the perfect third launch city for Uber Air.
“We will see other Australian cities following soon after.”
It will take about 10 minutes to get to the Melbourne airport from the CBD by Air taxi versus 1 hour by car.
“In the coming years, with Uber Air, we want to make it possible for people to push a button and get a flight,” Uber Elevate head Eric Allison stated.
Uber Air uses aircrafts able to take off vertically from the special hubs (so-called ‘skyports’) located at the rooftops of Westfield shopping centres. Each taxi can carry 4 passengers and a pilot.
Other Australian companies involved in the infrastructure: Macquarie Capital and Telstra, as well as Melbourne Airport.
