Trump Admin Invests in Air Taxis to Beat China in eVTOL Race

The Trump administration has released the first national framework designed to accelerate the integration of flying taxis, also known as advanced air mobility vehicles, into the US National Airspace System.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled the Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy, a roadmap that includes 40 recommendations to enable the safe and scalable operation of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and other next-generation aviation technologies.

Technology testing

The framework is intended to help companies move beyond testing and toward commercial operations, with initial passenger services potentially beginning around 2027.

Supporting this effort, NASA conducted flight tests in spring 2025 to evaluate how 5G cellular networks could support connectivity for future air taxi operations. These tests are expected to inform the Federal Aviation Administration’s development of network and communication requirements for advanced air mobility in urban environments.

Framework details

The national strategy addresses multiple elements required for large-scale deployment, including airspace integration, vertiport planning, cybersecurity, community acceptance, workforce development, and increasing levels of automation in flight operations.

The framework also highlights international competition, particularly with China, as a reason for urgency. Policymakers see advanced air mobility as strategically important for maintaining US leadership in aerospace technology and manufacturing.

Economic impact

Air taxis are expected to reshape urban and regional transportation by offering faster and potentially cleaner alternatives to ground travel.

Beyond passenger transport, the strategy anticipates benefits for emergency response, medical transport, cargo delivery, and other missions where rapid low-altitude flight can provide clear advantages.

The strategy could also encourage new partnerships between government, cities, and private companies, while supporting domestic manufacturing and job creation.

Companies such as Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are expected to benefit as regulations become clearer. Recently, Joby partnered with Uber Technologies to integrate Blade Air Mobility’s helicopter and seaplane services into the Uber app, signaling how air mobility could be embedded into mainstream travel platforms.

According to Mohan Das, CEO and founder of NuFlights, the introduction of air taxi services for rapid airport transfers could become a defining shift for the industry in 2026. He emphasized that embedding eVTOL options into core booking workflows would represent a true disruption, changing how airlines, agencies, and platforms generate ancillary revenue.

For additional insights from industry leaders on key trends shaping travel in 2026, read our latest coverage.

Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash