All of us have traveled in taxis, from one time to the other, by using online services like Uber or Cream. But have you ever thought about booking an aerial taxi by using a mobile application? It sounds like a dream. But now a private company, Sky Wings has turned this dream into reality. Pakistan is set to launch its first-ever aerial taxi service to facilitate the people. The modern facility is introduced by Sky Wings, a private company, in collaboration with a foreign investor. It is expected that the service will be launched within the next two weeks.
If we turned the pages of history books, we came to know that the concept of air taxi service was introduced in the 1960s to fill a gap between regular commercial aviation and VIP charter flights. However, practically working started on it at the end of the 20th century. Now think about an aerial taxi! What is an air taxi? And how it is different from the regular flights? An air taxi typically refers to a small commercial aircraft that operates short flights on demand. Countries like the United States, Germany, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand are actively pursuing air taxi services. However, it is the first time that Pakistan has ventured into this project.
The introduction of aerial taxis as a transportation mode is an innovative idea of transportation that will revolutionize travel in Pakistan. Initially, the service will feature a fleet of eight aircraft, each having a capacity of carrying two to six passengers. However, more aircraft will be introduced in the near future. DA-40 Diamond is also included in the fleet, which is manufactured by a German aircraft manufacturer. It has four seats including the one for the pilot. It can fly at a speed of 160 knots (approximately 300 kilometers) per hour while operating on a single fueling.
The aim of the air taxi service is to offer emergency transportation to remote areas of Sindh and Balochistan from Karachi.
Sky Wings Aviation’s chief operating officer (COO) Imran Aslam Khan, told the media that the German-manufactured aircraft can fly at an altitude of 2000 feet, with a speed of 160km per hour. The air taxi service will allow travelers to reach Gwadar in three hours. Furthermore, the aerial taxi service will offer continuous flights of up to 11 hours with a single refueling, using Jet Fuel One.
Imran Aslam has stated that the aerial taxi service will be available through a mobile application, like Careem, Uber, and Bykea, allowing individuals to select their desired time and destination. The fare for the aerial taxi service will be around Rs2.5 million for a trip from Karachi to different cities in Sindh and Balochistan.
While describing the advantages of the service COO Imran Aslam said, “Apart from political, religious and business personalities, other professionals like tourists, lawyers, journalists and doctors and ordinary citizens will also be able to benefit from aerial taxis.”
No doubt, the launch of Pakistan’s first aerial taxi service is a significant milestone in the transportation sector and it shall provide an efficient mode of traveling to individuals throughout the country.
