Airbus Will Complete eVTOL Prototype Flight Tests Despite Program Pause

Airbus Will Complete eVTOL Flight Tests Despite Program Pause

Flight testing has been moved to an undisclosed location to allow more space for the work

April 22, 2025

Airbus is continuing weekly flight tests with its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype aircraft almost three months after the company’s January 28 announcement that it will not proceed with a commercial launch of the four-seat model. The aircraft has been moved from Airbus Helicopters’ Donauwörth facility in Germany, and although the European aerospace group has declined to reveal the location of flight testing that will be completed this year, it is likely now based at the nearby Airbus Defense and Space facility in Manching.

During a press briefing in early March, Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even told reporters that the company still has a long-term belief in the viability of eVTOL aircraft, but has concluded that available battery technology will not support the required range and payload performance until the 2030s. Emphasizing Airbus’ philosophy of delivering “the right product at the right time,” he concluded that current technology would not be sufficient for the company’s ambitions for the advanced air mobility sector.

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