Saudi Arabia to test flying taxis, drones this Hajj season

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will be testing flying taxis and drones during this year’s Hajj season, according to Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh al-Jasser.

“There is currently a lot of competition among various transportation companies to provide a practical product in the upcoming years,” al-Jasser said in an interview with Al-Arabiya.

This sector is gradually expanding, it is vital for the ministry to be introduced to these new technologies and see the best way they can be incorporated, he said.

Indian court grants temporary bail to opposition leader to campaign in elections

“So, we must be at the front in order to benefit from these services and for the Hajj season to have the largest share of it.”

Earlier, Saudi Arabian Airlines also unveiled plans to operate flying taxis to ferry Hajj pilgrims between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and hotels in Makkah. Saudia intends to buy around 100 aircraft to operate the service.

During last January, Abdullah Al-Shahrani, director of corporate communications and spokesman of the Saudia Group, said that the Saudi national carrier is making preparations to use air taxis as a new mode of transportation during the Hajj season. He said that the Saudia Group has contracted the purchase of 100 Lilium jets, German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to shuttle between the Jeddah airport and airstrips in Makkah hotels near the Grand Mosque and other holy places.

“The electric plane Lilium is one of the first aircraft that operates entirely on electric power. After completing the necessary arrangements, these planes will fly with the guests of God during Hajj and Umrah seasons from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to the airstrips in hotels near the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” he said. Air taxi is a small commercial aircraft that makes short flights on demand.