The flying taxi is a new service for the pilgrims (Saudi press)

RIYADH — To offer alternative options to future pilgrims and reduce traffic congestion during the Hajj season, Saudi Arabia has announced its intention to launch a "flying taxi" whose mission will be to transport pilgrims from various airports to hotels in Mecca.

According to Saudi media, Saudi Airlines is moving to provide better services for pilgrims and Umrah performers, represented in transporting "pilgrims" from the airport to hotels via electric planes.

Saudi Arabian Airlines Chief Executive Ibrahim Koshy said the company had signed an agreement with German electric aircraft maker Lilium to buy up to 100 aircraft for use in Saudi Arabia's domestic network.

Koshy stressed Saudi Airlines' commitment to sustainability because the planes are 100% electric, and because his company is the first airline in the MENA region to use these aircraft within its network.

"We will also look at the required infrastructure," he said, adding that since these planes can take off and land vertically, they do not require airports, but "it is like a port with cargo terminals, boarding and disembarking of passengers, and that will require complete infrastructure."

During a session entitled "Transport and Logistics Services in the Services of the Guests of Rahman", at the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition, the Director of Operations and Product for Hajj and Umrah at Saudi Airlines, Abdul Rahman Abdul Baqi, said that Saudi Airlines is heading - in its initiative - to buy 100 electric planes, to transport "guests of Rahman" from King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, to airstrips in Makkah hotels in the coming years.

A quantum leap in Saudi Arabia.

Coming soon.. Launching the "Flying Taxi" to transport pilgrims and Umrah performers from #جدة Airport to #مكة hotels, at maximum speed and high quality.

– pic.twitter.com/ZVlSfabhA4

— Saudi News (@SaudiNews50) January 13, 2024

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The aircraft will be able to carry 4 to 6 passengers per flight, has a low carbon emission rate, and is an environmentally friendly aircraft, making it one of the enablers of sustainable air travel. While covering a maximum distance of 250 kilometers per hour, it will be supported by air routes between the main airports in which the Kingdom operates and as a special service for pilgrims.

The "flying taxi" will be of the type "Lillium", one of the first helicopter aircraft to take off and land, and features a unique cabin that offers several options for arranging seats, characterized by spacious spaces that meet the needs of elite pilgrims looking for the finest travel experiences.

Lillium believes that this feature will contribute to driving demand for electric helicopters to take off and land, ensuring sustainability levels in the world.

Last month, Lilium, which competes in an already crowded market for electric vertical take-off and landing planes, said it planned to boost its production capacity to allow it to build about 400 planes a year, while benefiting from programs aimed at supporting public research.

The new electric aircraft sector has been hit by challenges in obtaining certifications and financing innovations, such as new battery technology, and Lilium shares fell 73% in 2023.

Source : Saudi Press