Uber continues on its bold and innovative path with Uber Air, an aerial ridership service that is expected to launch in 2023. Both safe and environmentally conscious, Uber Air is a new mobility method that allows riders to travel to destinations within major metropolitan areas via Uber’s Skyport network. Today, the Government of Victoria, Australia announced that Melbourne will be the third major city to trial Uber Air, along with Dallas and Los Angeles.
The aerial system is set up to be a fast and convenient way for people to take longer trips across cities that bypasses traffic while remaining affordable due to ride sharing. The vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are electric, providing a quiet and more sustainable method of transportation for users in many big cities. Travelers are given the option of Uber Air just as easily as UberX and Uber Pool.
Uber chooses cities based on a rigorous evaluation process that finds the most innovative and high-tech centers for piloting the program. Melbourne has been named Australia’s leading tech city with a diverse and talented labor pool, as well as continuous development through top universities and R&D centers. The city also has a modern transport network with billions of dollars in infrastructural development, making it ideal as a disruptive space for transportation.
“Melbourne is among the world’s most technologically adept cities, with a population that is comfortable with and has high expectations for what technology can do for them,” said Eric Allison, Head of Uber Elevate, in a press statement. “It’s easy to see why so many innovative global companies choose to establish their regional presence in Melbourne. In addition to the many advantages it has that make it Australia’s fastest growing city, the Government of Victoria, Australia’s active interest and involvement in Uber Air and the Australian government’s track record as an efficient and progressive regulator make Melbourne the perfect partner for us in our quest to develop aerial ridesharing at scale.”
