Airtaxi World Congress 2024 flies into Dubai
Uniting the global AAM sector
The global Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector will shift its flight orientation to the oil-rich Middle East when the Airtaxi World Congress 2024 lands in Dubai City from October 7 to 10.
The event, which is being hosted in the Middle East for the first time, is a unique opportunity for airlines, airports, vertiports, cities and regions, civil aviation authorities, regulators, start-up air taxi operators, investors, OEMs and suppliers to gather and explore the growing but challenging field of AAM. It is a chance for hundreds of participants to network, learn, and be part of the future of air mobility, encompassing eVTOLs, next-gen STOLs, eCTOLs, delivery and cargo drones, autonomy, and AI.
The AAM market, with a value of $9.3 billion in 2023, is on a trajectory of rapid growth, projected to reach a staggering $51.6 billion by 2033. This growth underscores the significant potential of the AAM industry, offering a hopeful glimpse into the future of mobility.
Airtaxi World Congress 2024, organised by Manchester, UK-headquartered Global Travel Investments, will feature a summit, meetings, an exhibition, static and live air demonstrations, roundtable discussions, and workshops. Notable participants include the FAA, Munich International Airport, JetSetGo, and Rolls Royce.
Intense networking
The overall event is structured to maximise networking opportunities within a compact timeframe. Attendees will engage in pre-scheduled 20-minute meetings, allowing for efficient connections with key industry players and consolidating a year’s worth of meetings into just two days.
The summit programme boasts a lineup of panels addressing critical AAM topics such as Airports of Tomorrow: Pioneering AAM Integration for Operational Efficiency; Airlines & Operators: Integrating Air Taxis into Existing Operations; Regional Air Mobility vs Urban Air Mobility; Heavy Cargo Drones and Delivery Services: Exploring Market Opportunities; and UK and China Markets: Pioneering Advanced Air Mobility.
In addition to the panels, fireside chats and workshops will provide attendees with insights from top industry experts, ensuring a rich educational experience.
Fifth edition
The Dubai event is the fifth annual edition of the Airtaxi World Congress, the only AAM-focused event that enables OEMs to connect and engage with the most diverse global audience of airlines, operators, airports, suppliers, analysts, media, tourism boards, regulators, investors, and potential aircraft buyers.
The AAM industry is an emerging sector of aviation that is growing and pushing the boundaries of innovation. It focuses on innovative aerial transportation solutions extending beyond conventional crewed aircraft. AAM includes many vehicles, such as eVTOL aircraft, urban air mobility (UAM) systems, and electric fixed-wing planes.
These vehicles, designed to be more efficient, sustainable, and accessible than traditional options, hold the potential to revolutionise transportation in both urban and rural areas, offering a hopeful glimpse into the future of mobility.
Several factors are driving the growth of the AAM market. Increasing urbanisation, population growth, and rising traffic congestion in cities fuel demand for alternative transportation modes. Additionally, advancements in electric propulsion, battery technology, and autonomous flight systems make AAM vehicles increasingly viable.
In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are in a neck-to-neck race to launch airtaxi operations, even though the global AAM industry has yet to establish and benchmark safe electric airtaxi technologies that dozens of start-ups across the globe are working feverishly on; with the hope of making it big on the nascent market.
Airtaxi Market Showcase
The inaugural Airtaxi Market Showcase (AMS) on October 10 is set to be a standout feature of the Airtaxi World Congress 2024. This initiative will connect air taxi OEMs and operators, including Dubai AirVision Live, investors, and airlines, with high-demand market destinations seeking to commercialise AAM operations. The AMS also aims to unveil cutting-edge airtaxi technologies and stimulate strategic partnerships to drive urban air network growth in the Middle East region and globally.
Mike Howarth, President & Chief Strategist of Airtaxi Congress 2024 and Founder of Global Travel Investments, said: “We are excited to present our first-ever Market Showcase.”
Sustainability focus
Emphasising sustainability, Airtaxi World Congress 2024 will seek to spotlight air travel by exploring bespoke regional air networks, enhancing the viability of regional ‘point-to-point’ travel options, and uniting the leading players in the AAM sector.
The value chain of the AAM market includes R&D focused on technologies such as electric propulsion and autonomous flight control, along with design, manufacturing, and supply chain management for AAM vehicles.
Certification and regulatory compliance ensure safety and airworthiness, while infrastructure development supports operations through vertiports and air traffic management systems. AAM operators offer services like urban airtaxis and cargo transport, backed by maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities.
Financing and investment are crucial for market growth and commercialisation, fostering collaboration and innovation across the value chain to unlock the transformative potential of advanced air mobility.
Airtaxi Congress 2024 in Dubai City will occur days before Dubai Helishow 2024, which will be held in the city from October 22-24.
Featured image: File photo of a Volocopter eVTOL aircraft making a test flight in Dubai City in 2017. Credit: Volocopter
