Rotorcraft
SkyDrive Consortium Eyes Commercial eVTOL Services By 2028
Japanese companies say 100 air taxis could be operational around Osaka in 2035
SkyDrive’s SD-05 eVTOL flies over the Osakako Vertiport during Expo 2025 demonstrations in Osaka, Japan.
SkyDrive’s SD-05 eVTOL flies over the Osakako Vertiport during Expo 2025 demonstrations in Osaka, Japan.

SkyDrive has announced the launch of Japan’s first vertiport operators’ consortium, formed to promote the establishment of commercial eVTOL services across the Kansai area. Partners in the region include the Osaka prefectural and municipal governments, the Osaka Metro Company, Soracle and Marubeni Corporation.

At a meeting on May 8, partners discussed what SkyDrive termed “a roadmap for public-private cooperation over the commercialization of eVTOL services based at the Osakako vertiport.” This plan builds on the Kansai Economic Federation’s March 2026 commitment to deploy around 100 eVTOL aircraft by 2035.

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