FutureFlight
First Fare-Paying eVTOL Passenger Flights Could Happen In Paris During 2024 Olympic Games
Volocopter is about to apply for an air operator certificate as it prepares for what could be the world's first commercial eVTOL flights to be started in time for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Officials from Volocopter, France's DGAC, Groupe ADP and Region Ilê de France at the 2023 Paris Air Show.
From left to right: Damien Cazé, France's Director General of Civil Aviation; Dirk Hoke, CEO of Volocopter; Valérie Précresse, president of the Ilê-de-France regino; Edward Awkwright, Groupe ADP Deputy CEO pose in front of VoloCity aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2023. (Image: Nikolay Kazakov/Volocopter)

Some lucky Parisians and Olympic Games visitors are set to become the world’s first paying passengers in an eVTOL aircraft. During last week's Paris Air Show, Volocopter confirmed it is on schedule to secure type certification by EASA for the two-seat VoloCity aircraft in time for the games, which open on July 26, 2024. 

Volocopter is one of some 30 partners involved in the Re.Invent Mobility project being conducted around the Olympic Games to demonstrate the potential for new aircraft to enhance public transportation in and around the French capital. On June 22, airports group ADP, which is one of the prime movers behind the program, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with eVTOL developer AutoFlight under which the company will conduct flight demonstrations with its Prosperity I vehicle from a specially-constructed vertiport at Pontoise Airport, northwest of Paris.