By Philip Butterworth-Hayes
According to reports from EHang, the first commercial eVTOL flights should lift off in the next few days. For many months now the roll-out of the industry across the world has been general clear: China first (with automatic EHang EH216-S flights), then the Gulf states (with Joby S4 flights once the S4 has been certified – though Saudi Arabia could pip the others to the post if SALAAM.earth’s FlyNow eCopters take to the skies as planned – see table), then the USA (BETA, Joby and Archer) and then, perhaps, Europe, Japan and Korea.
But events have a habit of disrupting the industry and its launch plans. Deadline after deadline for operational launches have been missed due to political, regulatory and technical hitches. Now the war in the Middle East has disrupted many of the Gulf states’ plans for advanced air mobility operational launches – though by how much is not yet clear.
According to the latest version of Unmanned Publication’s Guide to AAM regulations, standards, CONOPS and roadmaps for passenger-carrying operations which gives readers an up-to-date view of AAM roadmap, plans, regulations and standards being developed around the world, this year is still on track to be the launch year of the industry though outside China there are still many complex regulatory certification challenges still to be overcome. The workload on the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify eVTOL aircraft, operators, vertiports and other related services is immense.
Even after the initial launch of services it will take at least 18 months for the industry to fully grasp the financial, technical and operational realities of this new sector. The true costs of operations, including vertiport, maintenance and airspace service charges. Battery performance. Weather. Demand for services, Public acceptance. These are all unknown in the granular detail required for scaling.
But the difference between one-and-zero and one-and-two is huge, especially in the AAM world. Confidence in AAM timelines for launch is brittle – but if services do start in China as planned, there will be a sigh of relief heard around the world.
The global launch timetable for commercial AAM services
(subject to delays and disruptions)
2026
Q1
China. Commercial EHang flights are likely before the end of March 2026. The first two operators with Air Operator Certificate – EHang General Aviation and Heyi Aviation – are expected to launch ticketed aerial sightseeing services for the public at EHang Future City, its headquarters in Guangzhou and Luogang Park in Hefei, marking the transition from internal trial run to commercial operations.
Saudi Arabia. Sky Alliance for Automated Air Mobility‘s first trial flights with FlyNow eCopters are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026 in Riyadh, leading to full commercial operations in due course.
Q2
USA. Under the Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), the first trial flights are due to take off in summer 2026. These are not strictly commercial flights but they will provide the roadway from trials to operations. Florida is developing the most comprehensive ecosystem for AAM operations with local authorities closely aligned in terms of training and support to industry plans.
Q3
United Arab Emirates. GCAA is aiming for commercial operations by Q3 2026. The GCAA has established dedicated teams for each eVTOL program to provide specialized technical expertise and regulatory efficiency. Dubai is set to launch the UAE’s first commercial, city-wide eVTOL air taxi service in 2026, featuring Joby Aviation aircraft and four initial vertiports.
2027
Australia. “In the near term “2027 to 2029” In the following three years, we expect AAM operations to launch in Australia,” says CASA. “This will introduce the first commercial applications, including passenger transport in urban areas.”
Japan. The country’s MLIT estimates that the first phases of implementation “would take place in 2027 or 2028, possibly sooner.”
Ras Al Khaimah. In September 2025 the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA), Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure announced a long-term collaboration to launch a passenger air taxi service network in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) by 2027.
2028
UK. “The UK government has a clear objective to see commercial eVTOL flights from 2028; by end-2028 the CAA plans to have in place a clear regulatory framework and operational systems that allow initial commercial passenger eVTOL flights in the UK.”
Korea. The K-UAM roadmap pledges to begin with the commercialisation of UAM centered on public services in 2028 and fully support the introduction of private-sector-led services in 2030.
Bahrain. Test flights are scheduled to commence in 2027, followed by commercial operations in 2028, with plans to expand to international routes by 2029. Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eve Air Mobility.
2030
Italy. “It is fundamental that Advanced Air Mobility be integrated into the territory, capable of evolving by involving all the players in the ecosystem, who will be involved in the creation of an integrated network of infrastructures, also making the most of existing ones, and in the development of vehicles and technologies. The strategic vision therefore indicates the objective to be achieved by the end of the year, with 2030 the involvement of public and private stakeholders” – ENAC
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