Skyports has secured $110m (£88.3m) to build vertiports that can support the take-off and landing of flying taxis in Dubai ahead of a targeted 2026 launch.
The London-headquartered flying taxi infrastructure company said it will also use the Series C funding to develop its drone services, which include medical deliveries and asset inspection.
The funding was led by an equity investment from infrastructure and construction company ACS Group via its wholly owned subsidiary Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras S.A., (IRIDIUM).
Additional investment was provided by previous backer Groupe ADP, a Paris-based airport operator.
Three ACS executives have joined Skyports’ board as part of the deal, including IRIDIUM CEO Nuria Haltiwanger, who takes the role of chairperson.
“We are looking at how Skyports Drone Services’ expertise will help us to bring further efficiencies to our existing asset management, construction and mining businesses in the group,” said Nuria Haltiwanger, CEO of IRIDIUM.
“This investment in Skyports is a critical step in our strategy of further expansion in new generation infrastructure, particularly in sustainable mobility.”
Duncan Walker, CEO and co-founder of Skyports, said: “With ACS backing, we are in the best possible position to advance commercial air taxi and electric drone services around the world.”
Flying taxis yet to take off
Skyports is one of the many startups developing technology and infrastructure to transport products and people through the skies via small and predominantly electric aircraft.
It has two divisions: drone infrastructure and drone services. While it has not yet transported people through its projects, it has carried out several drone delivery trials. Last year, it partnered with the Royal Mail to trial drone deliveries to the Orkney Islands.
Skyports has expanded globally, often via partnerships. It now has offices in Dubai, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Colombia. The company previously raised £21m in Series B funding in 2022.
The UK government has similar flying taxi goals to Dubai. Earlier this year, the Department for Transport said it’s aiming for the UK’s first piloted flying taxi flight in 2026 and regular services by 2028. However, experts caution that many regulatory and technical hurdles make that timeline a challenge.
Skyports said in 2022 that it was targeting “initial deployment” of its flying taxi service in Japan by 2025.
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