Millennials show highest interest in air taxis
Research conducted by Honeywell Aerospace has revealed that millennials are the demographic group most eager to experience air taxi travel in the future.
In a survey of 1,000 US-based fliers, 65% of those born between 1981 and 1996 expressed interest in using an eVTOL aircraft, compared to 58% of all respondents.
Frequent travelers, who flew ten or more times in the past year, showed even greater enthusiasm, with 67% supporting this mode of transportation, while among those who flew fewer than ten times, only 56% were eager to try what is expected to be the next major advancement in travel.
As anticipated, business travelers showed more interest in eVTOL flights than leisure travelers. When asked about their primary reason for using air taxis, most respondents cited city-to-city travel within 100 miles (41%), while others highlighted commuting from suburban airports to city centers (31%) or making quick connections in nearby cities (28%). Overall, 98% of participants said they would consider using an eVTOL as part of their travel plans, with avoiding traffic emerging as a key motivator.
“Anyone who travels regularly knows that the journey to and from the airport often adds unwelcome time, cost and hassle to the overall trip. Air taxis can offer a safe, fast and innovative alternative to traditional transport methods.”
He added: “Our research indicates significant appetite for such services already exists – but like any new technology, consumers need to feel confident about safety, cost and reliability. Air taxis may sound like science fiction to some, but we’re not far from a time when they could become a regular part of travel.”
Beyond interest levels, safety remains a top concern, with nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents emphasizing it as a key consideration. Public acceptance of eVTOL is expected to be one of the biggest challenges for air taxi developers, as negative perceptions could hinder the technology’s widespread adoption.
Whether air taxis will become as common as buses or trains remains to be seen, though industry critics argue that they may remain a luxury accessible only to the wealthy.
The Honeywell Aerospace Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 US adult fliers who are ages 18+.
