Kazakhstani company Alatau Advance Air Group is going to test its first air taxi, based on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology, at the end of May.
Alatau: A special environment for the development of Urban Air Mobility
On May 8, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law granting special status to the city of Alatau. According to the company, this is why Alatau is particularly attractive for developing Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Unlike other cities, it does not require changes to existing urban infrastructure.
A master plan for Alatau, which is being designed from scratch, could include:
- vertiports;
- air corridors;
- digital low-altitude air vehicles traffic management;
- integration with Smart City infrastructure;
- routes between transport hubs.
This is highly important, as the need to restructure the urban environment is the key obstacle for this industry.
Furthermore, Kazakhstan is already discussing mechanisms for regulating flights below 3,000 meters, including air taxis, cargo platforms and other elements of this economic sector. Both the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and Alatau Advance Air Group are actively participating in this work.
When will air taxis begin operating in Alatau?
Pilot routes in the Almaty agglomeration have already been announced for 2026. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev previously said that air transport would be able to fly between Almaty, Alatau and other sites in the Almaty region at speeds of up to 340 kilometers per hour (km/h). For example, a flight from Almaty to Medeo would take approximately 10 to 12 minutes, compared to a significantly longer trip by a regular taxi.
«The eVTOL market is still in its infancy. There has not yet been widespread adoption in the U.S., China or Europe. This means that countries that quickly adapt their legislation and infrastructure to this new industry could gain a significant advantage in the future. Essentially, today’s competition isn’t just for the market; a new infrastructure economy is emerging, complete with its own technologies, logistics, digital platforms and regulations. Kazakhstan has the opportunity to become the first fully fledged regulatory platform for UAM in Central Asia and the CIS,» Alatau Advance Air Group said in a statement.
Construction of the country’s first network of vertiports (eVTOL takeoff and landing sites) will begin in 2026. The project is being implemented by the company in partnership with UrbanV (Italy) and Korea Airports Corporation.
Which aircraft will be used as air taxis in Kazakhstan?
The first test flights of the Chinese AutoFlight aircraft are planned for 2026. The aircraft has a range of 250 kilometers, a top speed of 200 km/h and can carry four passengers and a pilot. Demonstration and test flights will be conducted without passengers.
In 2028, Kazakhstan is expected to receive Joby Aviation Model S-4 aircraft, capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot, with a range of up to 241 kilometers and speeds of up to 320 km/h.
This follows a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of electric eVTOL aircraft signed in November 2025 between Kazakhstan’s AI agency, Joby Aviation, Alatau Advance Air Group, and Kazakhstani businessman Vyacheslav Kim (co-owner of Kaspi.kz and majority shareholder of Alatau City Bank). Under the $300 million contract, an air taxi system is planned for implementation in the city of Alatau.
