AirAsia Plans to Launch Flying Taxis That Can Accommodate Four Passengers in 2022

By Ammar Haziq  •  09 Mar 2021 in News

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AirAsia is planning to launch a flying-taxi business in 2022 and is already working on it. “I think we are about a year and a half away,” Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said in an online discussion during the Youth Economic Forum.

The company has also been looking at other opportunities in the digital space since being hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, it launched the “super app” that allows people to use its shopping, travel, financial and logistic services, reported Bloomberg.

“We took it as an opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to recast your business, re-look at things,” said Fernandes.

He said AirAsia expects to begin its e-hailing services in April of next year, and added that the flying taxis will have four seats and will be powered by a quadcopter.

Separately, the company also announce that it’s partnering with the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre to develop an urban delivery drone service.

Fernandes is also optimistic that air travel will soon recover with the vaccine roll out. For now, the company offers low-cost flights to 22 countries, mostly in the Asia-Pacific region.

He also hopes that interstate travel will start in the next two to three weeks within Malaysia whereas he expects international borders to open up in July or August.