ASTANA — Kazakhstan has taken its first practical step toward urban air mobility after a passenger completed the country’s first flight aboard an autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, signaling that the country’s air taxi ambitions are beginning to move beyond government plans into real-world testing.
Photo credit: gov.kz
According to the Committee of Civil Aviation (CCA), the EH216-S, a two-seat autonomous aircraft developed by Chinese manufacturer EHang for short-distance passenger transport, carried a passenger during a demonstration flight over a specially designated area in Astana as part of the Games of the Future 2026 on Aug. 6, marking Kazakhstan’s first-ever passenger eVTOL flight.
The electric aircraft can travel up to 35 kilometers at speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour and is designed to operate without a pilot onboard.
The demonstration follows a series of policy announcements made earlier this year. In May, the government outlined plans to develop an urban air mobility ecosystem, including regulations for eVTOL aircraft, vertiports and unmanned air traffic management, while targeting the launch of pilot air taxi routes between Alatau, Almaty and Konayev as early as 2027.
The CCA said the first phase could include demonstration and sightseeing routes lasting between five and 30 minutes over Kazakhstan’s natural, cultural and historical landmarks. In the longer term, authorities see autonomous aircraft supporting emergency medical response, medicine deliveries, firefighting and logistics—applications where speed and rapid deployment are critical—alongside passenger transportation.
Beyond operations, Kazakhstan also plans to localize production of passenger eVTOL aircraft through an international partnership. If implemented, the initiative could position the country not only as an early adopter of advanced air mobility technologies but also as a regional manufacturing hub for an industry that
remains in its early stages globally.
The Ministry of Transport, with other government agencies, is developing the legal and infrastructure framework needed to introduce urban air mobility. Legislative amendments have already been adopted to regulate the operation of eVTOL aircraft, vertiports and unmanned air traffic management systems, laying the groundwork for the safe integration of these technologies into Kazakhstan’s transport network.
Unlike helicopters, eVTOL aircraft rely on electric propulsion, making them quieter and potentially less expensive to operate over short distances. Industry experts view the technology as part of a broader shift toward Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) — a new transportation system intended to complement rather than replace conventional road and air transport.
Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, China and the United States, are already conducting pilot programs or preparing for commercial eVTOL services, although widespread deployment remains several years away. Initial applications worldwide are expected to focus on airport transfers, tourism, emergency medical services and connecting remote communities before broader urban deployment.
While commercial passenger services remain several years away and will require further testing and regulatory development, the demonstration marks Kazakhstan’s transition from planning to practical experimentation with technologies that could eventually reshape short-distance transportation.
