Airport to examine electric 'sky taxi' potential

Electric aircraft described as "sky taxis" could fly from Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) when it reopens, the airport has said.

The lightweight vehicles, which travel at up to 150mph (240km/h), can carry about five passengers and are said to be part of the airport's proposed growth strategy.

EVTOL, which stands for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, have both wings and propellers enabling them to take-off like a helicopter and fly like an aeroplane.

Airport director Christian Foster said DSA was discussing the potential move with "a number of providers" and wanted to do something a "little bit different and unique".

The reopening of DSA was given the go-ahead by South Yorkshire's regional mayor Oliver Coppard and council leaders in September.

Funding of £193m has been earmarked for the plan to get the airport up and running again, with the first passenger flights likely to be in summer 2028.

The airport closed in 2022 after previous operator Peel Group said that it was no longer financially viable.

Foster said the airport had "a significant land holding" of more than 900 acres.

"I think that presents massive opportunities to do something a little bit different and unique," he said.

"We're in discussions with a number of providers and we're keen to look at how we can maximise [use of] the site and maximise opportunities for people to travel in and around the UK."

He added: "The vision for this airport has always been wider than just a 'bucket and spade' airport, so how do we work with modern technologies around sky taxis.

"You can see the United Arab Emirates undertaking sky taxis potentially in 2027 or 2028, and from a UK point of view probably it would be a few years after that."

One company developing sky taxi technology is Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace.

It wishes to start operating Valo aircraft between Canary Wharf in London and Heathrow Airport but is still waiting for Civil Aviation Authority approval.

Michael Cervenka, the firm's chief commercial officer, said: "I think it's really exciting that Doncaster is looking at using their airport for these kind of routes.

"When you think about transportation systems you need to plan for the future, so it's really exciting that we've got places with the vision to say this could be coming."

The manufacturer said it would begin as a "premium" service but could grow to become "very affordable".

Those looking at the technology claim it could eventually enable "quicker and cleaner journeys" compared with road or rail transport.

DSA's redevelopment is being supported by Munich Airport, which is helping to find airlines for the reopened business.

Managing director Lutz Weisser said the sky taxi proposal was an "excellent area of innovation".

"I don't know for sure whether its 12 years from now or two years from now that we'll all be sitting in air taxis, but I do know this industry is going to be a key factor in advancing aviation," he said.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North