By SHINJI HAKOTANI/ Staff Writer
September 27, 2024 at 18:30 JST
A rendering of a small electric passenger aircraft (Provided by SkyDrive Inc.)
Organizers of the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo scrapped plans to allow passengers onto the event's highly anticipated small electric aircraft due to their failure to meet safety regulations.
Demonstration flights held throughout the event will replace the so-called "flying cars" experience, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced on Sept. 26.
All four operators decided to abandon plans for commercial flights via electric aircraft during the six-month expo period, starting April 13 of next year.
These operators include SkyDrive Inc., Marubeni Corp. and a partnership between ANA Holdings Co. and Joby Aviation. A joint venture involving Japan Airlines Co. and Sumitomo Corp. is the fourth operator.
Although visitors may be disappointed none of them will be taking off in a futuristic flying taxi, organizers emphasize that the demonstration is still important for promoting this new form of transportation.
"Flying the latest models over the bay will showcase the variety of flying vehicles and hopefully pave the way for commercial use," said an expo organizer.
Exhibition flights are expected to take place around the main expo venue—an artificial island in Osaka Bay—and along routes connecting the site with other locations, covering distances of 3 to 5 kilometers.
Small electric aircraft, typically referred to as eVTOL, are drawing attention as a means to avoid urban congestion when commuting or traveling to isolated regions. More virtuously, they could be a potential asset in disaster relief efforts.
The government aims to initiate commercial operations of eVTOL by the late 2020s and subsequently expand these services in the following decade.
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