The electric aircraft is designed to take off and land vertically, and according to the Federal Ministry of Transport, it requires a type certificate for passenger operations.

The certification process is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024, and once approved, an air operator certificate and licensing for pilots will need to be applied for.

Despite the delay, the company is optimistic about the future of air taxis and is confident that it will be the first in the world to fly commercially.

Company boss, Dirk Hoke, stated that the electric aircraft should have premiered at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but the approval process has caused a delay.

Hoke added that from the hangar in Bruchsal near Karlsruhe, they will send planes to the world's metropolises, opening new avenues of travel and transportation.

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister, Winfried Kretschmann, expressed his confidence in the VoloCity model, stating that the aircraft can fly, and therefore there is no need to prove it to anyone.

However, the approval process remains crucial before the third step of market readiness and series production can be achieved.

Volocopter's production plans entail building 50 aircraft per year from the newly certified production facility, which can be expanded over more layers.

Hoke did not disclose the cost of one of the two-seater aircraft that weighs over 500 kilograms and currently flies around 20 minutes at a time.

Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing spoke of the pioneering achievement, stating that flights would be quieter and more climate-friendly thanks to battery-powered aircraft.

He added that the dream of flying in a cheap, quiet, and locally emission-free form has come closer for many.

Flights are calculable and reliable in big cities, which is important for transporting tissue samples during operations.

From the perspective of the Federal Ministry of Transport, this is just the beginning.

The ministry aims to develop the full potential of air taxis, and a group of experts will meet for the first time in April to develop a strategy for "Advanced Air Mobility." The goal is to clarify technical and legal issues to allow for future flights without a safety pilot on board.

Company boss Hoke sees the greatest challenge for the future in the speed of battery development.

He expects the next generation of batteries to be available from 2025, making larger aircraft feasible from 2026.