Flying Taxis in the UK: What’s Changing Under the New Government — and What’s Still in the Way

The UK's flying taxi ambitions are getting a fresh boost under the new Labour government, with a renewed focus on innovation, infrastructure and sustainable transport. But despite the headlines, test flights and grant announcements, the path to commercial take-off is still far from clear.

So what’s actually happening behind the scenes — and how close are we really to seeing electric air taxis in UK skies?

In mid-2025, the UK government committed over £20 million to support projects that integrate advanced air mobility — including flying taxis and drone systems — into everyday transport. The funding is part of a broader post-election push by the new Labour administration to accelerate high-tech, low-carbon transport infrastructure.

The goal is to prepare for safe, regulated operations of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the UK by 2028, with the Department for Transport working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority and industry partners to develop the necessary frameworks.

This isn’t just political posturing. UK-based manufacturers like Vertical Aerospace have already completed early hover tests, and the government’s Aviation Ambition strategy sets out a long-term vision for a future where short, electric air journeys between cities are as common as regional rail.

The Technology’s Getting There – But the System Isn’t

Aircraft like the VX4 from Vertical Aerospace and models from overseas firms such as Joby and Volocopter are already in advanced stages of development. Test flights are happening. Investments are flowing. The prototypes are, for the most part, real.

But public rollout depends on far more than building the aircraft.

There’s still no approved UK airspace model for low-altitude autonomous or semi-piloted passenger flights. Local authorities and airports don’t yet have “vertiport” infrastructure. And while Labour’s innovation strategy includes regulatory reform, recent government comms show that many of the operational and safety frameworks are still years away from being finalised.

Earlier this year, the Department for Transport (DfT), the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a joint letter to stakeholders in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector. The letter aimed to clarify the government’s position on developing the regulatory framework for flying taxis, drones, and other new forms of aerial transport.

The tone was optimistic but realistic. While reaffirming support for innovation in UK aviation, the letter also stressed that there’s still a great deal of work to do — particularly when it comes to building public trust, integrating new technologies safely, and navigating complex policy questions around airspace and certification.

One key takeaway was that the government does not intend to set arbitrary launch dates just to hit headlines:

“We are not publishing a date by which AAM operations should commence. Instead, we want to work with the sector to enable operations as early as it is safe and practical to do so.”

That kind of language reflects a more measured approach than some of the recent commercial PR might suggest. It shows that while government investment is ramping up, the legislative and regulatory processes are moving — as ever — at their own pace.

For an industry that wants to lift off by 2028, the message is clear: your aircraft might be ready, but the system you’ll need to fly them in isn’t — not yet.

The Vision vs The Reality

None of this means flying taxis are a fantasy. The momentum is real. Government money is now in the mix. The aircraft are evolving fast.

But this won’t be an overnight shift.

It’s far more likely that we’ll see small-scale, highly controlled trials first — airport links, city-to-city demonstrators, or premium executive routes. Widespread rollout across UK towns and cities? That’s still years away, with major legal, logistical, and affordability barriers still in place.

For taxi and private hire drivers, the idea of flying taxis probably feels far removed from the reality of your daily work. And to some extent, it is. There’s no immediate threat to local journeys, school runs, or Friday night fares. The roads aren’t going quiet anytime soon.

But that doesn’t mean this story isn’t relevant.

Like electric vehicles or ride-hailing apps before it, aerial mobility has the potential to shift public expectations about how transport should work — especially when it comes to speed, convenience, and booking technology. That might not affect your bookings next year, but it could shape where investment and policy attention goes over the next decade.

What’s more, change rarely arrives all at once. If flying taxis do become viable — even on a limited basis — it could open the door to new roles, new licensing models, and new ways of working. Whether that’s something drivers want to explore is a personal choice, but staying curious about what’s happening outside your own vehicle is never a bad thing.

And finally, it’s worth remembering this: ground transport has been declared “obsolete” more times than most drivers can count. But cities still run on wheels — and will do for a long while yet.