FlyNow Aviation Arabia plans to begin operating electric helicopters for cargo transport and firefighting in Saudi Arabia within two years, before launching passenger air taxi services by 2030, IntelliNews can reveal.

The firm expects thousands of the electric helicopters to operate in the skies above Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Ula and Asir as an urban service similar to traditional taxis, local Al-Eqtisadiah reported on September 2.

FlyNow Arabia established its regional headquarters in the Kingdom last year as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme to develop advanced mobility technologies. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the National Industrial Development Centre to conduct pilot programmes starting in 2025.

The electric copters feature coaxial rotors and produce noise levels of just 55 decibels at 150 metres altitude, equivalent to a dishwasher. Winter said the aircraft offers zero carbon emissions and costs significantly less than American competitors, which can exceed €5mn per unit.

Multiple configurations will be available, including a two-seater passenger model, a cargo version capable of carrying 200 kilograms (kg) on a standard Euro-pallet, firefighting variants with water tanks, and medical evacuation units equipped with patient stretchers. The aircraft has a maximum range of 50 kilometres (km) and operates along predetermined routes.

The Austrian company's eCopter aircraft will be priced from $373,000, according to Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Winter.

She added that the project is worth several hundred million dollars and aims to provide practical solutions accessible to everyone, not just luxury transport between airports and hotels.

The company plans to establish an assembly plant in Saudi Arabia with local financing and investment support as IntelliNews previously reported in May.

FlyNow targets commercial cargo operations starting in 2027, with passenger services following after the aircraft accumulates more than one million kilometres of operational experience.

In an interview with local Al Sharq TV in May, Winter said that a single flight on the "electronic helicopter" would cost approximately SAR100 (around $25). She explained that the helicopter's flight range would reach 50 kilometres and automatically fly along predetermined routes to transport passengers and cargo.

Earlier in 2024, Saudi Arabia launched a self-driving aerial taxi service for pilgrims during last year’s Hajj season, as part of the country’s push towards autonomous vehicles.

Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, declared this initiative the world's first civil aviation authority-licensed flying taxi.

Earlier in 2024, the country announced it would also operate flying taxis in NEOM, the futuristic city under development north of Mecca in the Tarbuk region.

NEOM has been working with German firm Volocopter since 2021 on a joint venture to deploy Volocopter's eVTOL models - the VoloCity for intracity air taxi services, the VoloRegion for intercity flights within NEOM's regions, and the VoloDrone for cargo transport.