Airbus flying taxi recrop
Airbus
CNN  — 

Visitors to Paris may soon be able to arrive in the city center in style, traveling by flying taxi.

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is working with French transport operator RATP Group to explore the feasibility of “vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles” to operate in the French capital, hoping to bring the air taxis to Paris in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Related article Helicopter crashes won't stop Uber's dream of flying cars

The feasibility study, launched in partnership with airport operator Groupe ADP, the Paris Ile-de-France region and the French civil aviation authority (DGAC), will look into traffic management, urban integration, maintenance, and design and production.

To get to the city center, visitors arriving at Charles de Gaulle International Airport currently have to take a taxi, a 35-minute train, or a bus that could take between 45 and 90 minutes.

$11.4 million project

Efforts will be made to ensure that “the flying autonomous vehicle is accessible to the greatest number of people,” the RATP group said.

Airport manager ADP has until the end of the year to pick a site to develop for a “vertiport” – a facility capable of hosting air taxis in the region around Paris, news agency AFP reported. Plans are afoot to have the venue ready within 18 months, but would require €10 million ($11.4 million) in infrastructure investment, ADP executive director general Edward Arkwright estimated.

<strong>Flying high:</strong> Built by start-up company<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vertical-aerospace.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Vertical Aerospace</a>, this unmanned prototype completed a test flight in Gloucestershire, UK in June 2018 after being granted flight permission by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Flying high: Built by start-up company Vertical Aerospace, this unmanned prototype completed a test flight in Gloucestershire, UK in June 2018 after being granted flight permission by the Civil Aviation Authority.
GF Williams
<strong>Revolutionizing flying:</strong> The VTOL aircraft, which weighs 750 kilograms, was designed, built and flown in just 12 months.
Revolutionizing flying: The VTOL aircraft, which weighs 750 kilograms, was designed, built and flown in just 12 months.
GF Williams
<strong>Aerial taxis:</strong> A computer-generated image of an UberAIR ride. The ride-hailing giant wants to create a network of electrically powered flying taxis, with the first aircraft set to be tested in 2020. <br />
Aerial taxis: A computer-generated image of an UberAIR ride. The ride-hailing giant wants to create a network of electrically powered flying taxis, with the first aircraft set to be tested in 2020.
Uber
<strong>World-class partners: </strong>Manufacturers are developing designs for use on the network, such as this potential model by Brazilian aircraft firm Embraer.<br />
World-class partners: Manufacturers are developing designs for use on the network, such as this potential model by Brazilian aircraft firm Embraer.
Uber
<strong>Sky Tower: </strong>This design for Uber's proposed skyport comes from Pickard Chilton and Arup, and would accommodate 180 landings and takeoffs an hour.
Sky Tower: This design for Uber's proposed skyport comes from Pickard Chilton and Arup, and would accommodate 180 landings and takeoffs an hour.
Uber Pickard Chilton / Arup
<strong>Future model? </strong>An image of a proposed VTOL from Corgan, one of the firms selected to present during the Uber Elevate Summit in May.
Future model? An image of a proposed VTOL from Corgan, one of the firms selected to present during the Uber Elevate Summit in May.
Uber Corgan
<strong>Aesthetically different: </strong>Design company Gannett Fleming has created a design for the skyport which is based on the paws of cats and dogs.
Aesthetically different: Design company Gannett Fleming has created a design for the skyport which is based on the paws of cats and dogs.
Uber GannettFleming
<strong>Electric aircraft: </strong>A prospective design from Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel.
Electric aircraft: A prospective design from Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel.
Uber
<strong>Reference point:</strong> Uber's concept model, known as the eCRM-003, acts as a model for manufacturers to base their work on.
Reference point: Uber's concept model, known as the eCRM-003, acts as a model for manufacturers to base their work on.
Uber
<strong>Coming soon?</strong> The ride-hailing giant is planning to launch a network in LA, Dallas and a third as-yet-undecided international city by 2023.
Coming soon? The ride-hailing giant is planning to launch a network in LA, Dallas and a third as-yet-undecided international city by 2023.
Uber Pickard Chilton Arup
How long until flying taxis become a reality?

Airbus isn’t the only company planning to launch air taxis – Uber has partnered with NASA on its flying taxi program, which it calls Elevate, and is one of many companies racing to make aerial vehicles a reality. The companies have said they hope commercial trips will be available in 2023.

Related article This is the flight simulator and manual used to train pilots of doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight

Uber has said Melbourne would be the first city outside of the US to get its flying taxis, after Dallas and Los Angeles. Rolls-Royce and Boeing have also announced plans for aerial vehicles.