Kazakhstan is moving closer to launching Central Asia’s first electric air taxi service. On 24 July 2026, a demonstration flight of the Chinese-made AutoFlight Prosperity aircraft took place in Astana.
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can carry one pilot and five passengers. It reaches speeds of up to 200 km/h and can travel about 200 kilometres on a single charge. The demonstration was organised by the Kazakh company Alatau Advance Air Group in partnership with AutoFlight. For safety reasons, the flight was carried out without passengers.
Authorities plan to start commercial air taxi operations by the end of 2028 or early 2029. The service is expected to connect the new smart city of Alatau with Almaty and nearby tourist destinations. Several vertiports (special take-off and landing points) are also planned.
This project marks an important step toward cleaner and faster urban transport in the region. Electric air taxis produce no harmful emissions and could reduce road congestion. Officials say Kazakhstan aims to become a leader in advanced air mobility in Central Asia.
