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Astana, Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan has taken another step toward introducing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into its transport system after an AutoFlight Prosperity air taxi completed a demonstration flight in Astana on July 24, 2026. The latest flight builds on an urban air mobility programme first publicly presented in Alatau City in June and comes as the country moves to establish the regulatory and infrastructure framework needed for future commercial operations. The July 24 demonstration was conducted at the Kazanat Hippodrome by Kazakhstan-based Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. (AAAG) in partnership with Chinese eVTOL manufacturer AutoFlight. The flight was held as part of the Games of the Future 2026, supported by Samruk-Kazyna, and marked the first demonstration flight of an eVTOL-based air taxi in Astana. The aircraft used for the demonstration was the AutoFlight Prosperity, designed to accommodate one pilot and up to five passengers. The aircraft is equipped with 13 electric motors and can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h, with a range of up to 200 km. It produces zero direct CO₂ emissions and operates more quietly than conventional aircraft. The demonstration was conducted without passengers in accordance with safety requirements and ahead of full passenger certification for operation in Kazakhstan. The Astana flight follows an earlier milestone in Alatau City. On June 9, Kazakhstan presented what it described as the first urban air mobility ecosystem in Central Asia, with the first demonstration flight of the AutoFlight Prosperity. The project is being developed through private investment by AAAG in partnership with technology companies from the United States, China, South Korea and Italy. Total investment in developing urban air mobility in the region is estimated at $300 million. The June presentation also outlined plans for a broader UAM ecosystem encompassing eVTOL air taxis, vertiports, digital navigation and unmanned cargo delivery. Keeta Drone of China and A2Z of the United States presented cargo delivery systems, while a digital UATM navigation platform was showcased with participation from Korea Airports Corporation and Shenzhen Urban Transportation Planning Center. Infrastructure development is already underway. Construction of the first vertiport in Alatau City has begun in cooperation with UrbanV. The planned air mobility network is expected to connect Alatau City with Almaty and key tourist destinations across Almaty Region. Preliminary estimates indicate that an air-taxi journey from Almaty Airport to the Medeu high-mountain complex could take between 10 and 12 minutes. The programme has also advanced on the regulatory front. Kazakhstan signed a Constitutional Law on the special legal regime for Alatau City on May 8, 2026, providing for experimental legal regimes and special airspace zones for Urban Air Mobility. The law entered into force on July 1, establishing Alatau City as a pilot platform for innovative transport technologies and allowing UAM infrastructure to be incorporated into the city's master plan from the early stages of development. Further legislative changes signed on June 24 established a legal framework for UAM in Kazakhstan, including the legal status of eVTOL aircraft, vertiports and Unmanned Traffic Management systems. The framework also introduces certification requirements for industry participants and digital infrastructure, providing the regulatory foundation for the future integration of the technology into the country's transport system. AAAG is working with government authorities on approximately 40 regulatory acts intended to support the development and regulation of the emerging sector. The company has also signed a memorandum with AutoFlight covering the planned supply of 50 aircraft from the V2000 and V5000 series. The agreement includes technology transfer, training for Kazakh specialists and plans for a regional maintenance and repair centre. The latest government update says the UAM Center Eurasia project is already being developed in Alatau City and is intended to become the first urban air mobility centre in the region. AAAG is working with Korea Airports Corporation, UrbanV and AutoFlight on a network of vertiports, digital infrastructure and preparations for commercial operations. The AutoFlight Prosperity demonstrated in Astana is scheduled to remain on public display during the Games of the Future 2026. It will be exhibited outside Barys Arena on July 29 and 30, giving visitors an opportunity to see the aircraft following its demonstration flight. Kazakhstan's progress therefore represents more than a single air-taxi demonstration. The country has moved from an initial public presentation in Alatau City on June 9 to a second demonstration in Astana on July 24, while simultaneously advancing legislation, infrastructure, aircraft procurement and technical capability. However, the programme remains in the development and demonstration phase, and a full commercial passenger air-taxi service has not yet been launched. The latest developments strengthen Kazakhstan's position as the first country in Central Asia to publicly demonstrate an eVTOL-based urban air mobility ecosystem and establish the foundations for its future integration into the transport network.

Kazakhstan Advances Plans To Launch Central Asia’s First eVTOL Air Taxi Service

Aviation Today News Desk / July 27, 2026

Astana, Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan has taken another step toward introducing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into its transport system […]

Aviation Today Perspectives

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility – Part 5

Aviation Today Perspectives / July 23, 2026

What Could Slow AAM Down? A serious AAM strategy must also acknowledge the reasons the sector may scale more slowly

Aviation Today Perspectives

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility – Part 2

Aviation Today Perspectives / July 17, 2026

Demand Must Lead Infrastructure Decisions The most important strategic principle for AAM is simple: build where demand is painful, valuable,

Aviation Today Perspectives

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility

Aviation Today Perspectives / July 14, 2026

Advanced Air Mobility is approaching an inflection point. AAM’s next test is not flight; it is building an air transportation

Seoul, South Korea: Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have taken a significant step toward developing South Korea's next-generation Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop an electric-powered aircraft, combining Hyundai's electrified propulsion expertise with KAI's decades of aircraft development experience. According to a subsequent report by KED Global, the partners are now targeting 2034 for the commercial launch of their jointly developed AAM aircraft, marking a shift from Hyundai's earlier standalone roadmap through its U.S.-based AAM subsidiary, Supernal. The report said the two companies have decided to consolidate their individual development efforts under a unified national program aimed at accelerating South Korea's position in the emerging air mobility sector. The collaboration, announced on May 10, 2026, brings together Hyundai Motor Group's expertise in electric propulsion systems and vehicle electrification with KAI's capabilities in aircraft design, manufacturing, certification and aerospace engineering. Under the agreement, Supernal and KAI will jointly develop the aircraft platform, while Hyundai Motor Group's Aviation Powertrain Division will work with KAI to commercialize electric aviation powertrains for future aircraft. Beyond aircraft development, the two companies will cooperate on certification activities, supply-chain development, technology exchange, talent sharing and expanding global customer networks areas regarded as critical for bringing commercial AAM services to market. Hyundai said the partnership represents an important milestone in extending mobility beyond roads into the skies by leveraging technologies already developed for its electric vehicle portfolio. KAI, meanwhile, views the collaboration as an opportunity to expand beyond its traditional military and aerospace business into the emerging civil Advanced Air Mobility market. The partnership also reflects a strategic evolution of Hyundai's AAM ambitions. Through Supernal, Hyundai previously unveiled the S-A2 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft concept and had been pursuing aircraft development independently. The latest agreement integrates Supernal's design and engineering capabilities with KAI's aerospace manufacturing experience, creating a broader industrial collaboration intended to strengthen South Korea's competitiveness in the global AAM market. While Hyundai's official announcement does not specify a commercialization date, KED Global reported that the partners are working toward a 2034 launch of the jointly developed aircraft. If achieved, the program would represent one of South Korea's most ambitious civil aerospace initiatives and could establish a domestically developed AAM platform capable of competing in the global urban air mobility market. Since the MoU was signed, neither Hyundai Motor Group nor KAI has announced additional technical milestones, prototype unveilings or flight-test schedules. However, both companies have reaffirmed that their cooperation will extend beyond aircraft development to include certification, production readiness and commercialization activities required to support future AAM operations.

Air Taxi

Hyundai And KAI Target 2034 Launch Of South Korea’s Next-Generation Air Taxi

Aviation Today News Desk / July 3, 2026

Seoul, South Korea: Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have taken a significant step toward developing South Korea’s

IATA

IATA Says Brazil Has Potential To Become A Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Leader

Aviation Today News Desk / June 18, 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has highlighted Brazil’s significant potential to become a global leader

United Kingdom

UK Launches £219 Million Fund To Boost Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Growth

Aviation Today News Desk / June 18, 2026

London, United Kingdom: The UK government has unveiled a new £219 million Low Carbon Fuels Fund (LCFF) aimed at accelerating

Germany

Germany Unveils 15-Year Aviation Strategy To Boost Competitiveness And SAF Use

Aviation Today News Desk / June 10, 2026

Berlin, Germany: Germany is preparing to launch an ambitious 15-year aviation strategy aimed at restoring the country’s competitiveness as a

California, United States: Joby Aviation has announced a strategic partnership with Air Space Intelligence (ASI) to accelerate the integration of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into the United States National Airspace System (NAS), marking a critical shift from aircraft development to airspace readiness. The collaboration, revealed on April 7, 2026, focuses on deploying ASI’s AI-powered Flyways platform as a core coordination layer to manage high-density eVTOL traffic, an emerging challenge as the industry approaches commercialization. While much of the eVTOL race has historically centered on aircraft design such as range, noise, and efficiency the partnership highlights a growing industry concern: airspace congestion at scale. With Joby eVTOL nearing FAA type certification and preparing for early commercial operations under the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, the focus is now shifting toward managing potentially hundreds of simultaneous flights across major urban corridors such as New York, Miami, and Dallas. The companies aim to address this challenge before large-scale deployment begins. At the center of the collaboration is ASI’s Flyways AI, built on its PRESCIENCE platform, which creates a four-dimensional digital model of airspace by integrating real-time traffic data, weather inputs, and demand forecasts. This system enables air traffic controllers to anticipate congestion and optimize routing proactively rather than reacting after disruptions occur. Bernard Asare, President of Civil Aviation at Air Space Intelligence, emphasized the importance of this shift, stating, “Scaling advanced air mobility requires more than new aircraft… it requires a new operating system for the airspace.” He added that the platform provides predictive awareness to coordinate high-density operations “proactively, not reactively,” bringing these capabilities to eVTOL operations from the outset. Unlike earlier initiatives that focused primarily on drone traffic management systems, this partnership of eVTOL is designed to integrate directly with existing air traffic control (ATC) workflows rather than operate as a parallel system. Flyways AI will augment controller decision-making within the current NAS infrastructure, a move that could prove critical in gaining regulatory acceptance and operational scalability. The companies confirmed that joint demonstrations, including live operational exercises, are expected before the end of 2026, aligning with Joby’s planned commercial launch timeline. These trials are expected to validate how AI-driven coordination performs in real-world, high-density airspace environments. The partnership builds on ASI’s existing experience in conventional aviation, where its technology already supports major stakeholders, including airlines and U.S. defense operations. The company’s systems reportedly manage a significant portion of U.S. air traffic, strengthening its credibility in safety-critical environments. Meanwhile, Joby eVTOL continues to advance toward commercialization. The company recently completed piloted demonstration flights in California and has been selected to participate in multiple projects under the U.S. government’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which enables early operations across several states.

eVTOL

Joby Aviation Partners With ASI To Enable Scalable eVTOL Operations In U.S. Airspace

Aviation Today News Desk / April 19, 2026

California, United States: Joby Aviation has announced a strategic partnership with Air Space Intelligence (ASI) to accelerate the integration of

South Korea

Busan & Korean Air Sign $145M Deal For Advanced Aircraft Manufacturing Facility

Aviation Today News Desk / April 5, 2026

Busan, South Korea: Korean Air and the Busan Metropolitan Government have formalised a major aerospace development initiative through a memorandum

aviation innovation

Kazakhstan Advances Plans To Launch Central Asia’s First eVTOL Air Taxi Service

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility – Part 5

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility – Part 2

From Demonstrations to Networks: The Real Test of Advanced Air Mobility

Hyundai And KAI Target 2034 Launch Of South Korea’s Next-Generation Air Taxi

IATA Says Brazil Has Potential To Become A Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Leader

UK Launches £219 Million Fund To Boost Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Growth

Germany Unveils 15-Year Aviation Strategy To Boost Competitiveness And SAF Use

Joby Aviation Partners With ASI To Enable Scalable eVTOL Operations In U.S. Airspace

Busan & Korean Air Sign $145M Deal For Advanced Aircraft Manufacturing Facility

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