Air taxis from Alatau — Kazakhstan’s flagship future city — are expected to fly to Almaty and other cities in the Almaty region. Testing of the Joby Aviation S4 aircraft, designed to carry four passengers, is expected to begin this year, according to the Almaty region akimat, the local executive authority.
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The akimat said the private company Alatau Advance Air Group has been selected as the air mobility operator in Alatau.
The company is working with partners from the U.S., South Korea, China and Italy on aircraft research and testing.
Aircraft and technical specifications
The strategic partner for Kazakhstan’s first air taxi project is the U.S.-based company Joby Aviation and its Joby S4 model.
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Notably, the company is a leading global manufacturer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and is in the advanced stages of certification with the Federal Aviation Administration.
The aircraft that could operate as an air taxi in Alatau has the following specifications:
- Capacity for four passengers and a pilot.
- Range of up to 160 kilometers with reserve power.
- Maximum range of 241 kilometers.
- Top speed of up to 320 km/h.
Vertiports and testing timeline
Vertiports, takeoff and landing sites designed for air taxis, are planned for construction in Alatau, Almaty and other cities across the Almaty region.
The project is currently in the design phase, including site selection for a test center. Demonstration flights are expected to begin in 2026.
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Commercial operations are planned to start after the aircraft receives certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and approval from Kazakhstan’s aviation authorities.
«Air taxis will be an innovative mode of transport that will provide fast connections between Alatau, Almaty and other cities in the region,» the akimat said.
The administration added that details about ticket prices will be announced after certification testing is completed and preparations for commercial operations are finalized.
Project background and investment
In October 2024, Kazakhstan’s transport ministry presented the air taxi project for the new city during a forum dedicated to Alatau in South Korea.
The project is being developed by Alatau Advance Air Group, founded in March 2025 and owned by Yuri Tskhai through the company Caspian Integrity. Tskhai is a businessman and former senator, and one of the initiators and investors behind Alatau city.
In November 2025, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, Joby Aero Inc., Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd., and entrepreneur Vyacheslav Kim signed a memorandum in the U.S. The document outlines plans to procure eVTOL aircraft worth about $300 million.
Joby Aviation is a U.S. venture-backed aviation company developing eVTOL aircraft alongside major aerospace and industrial players such as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company and Toyota.
