‘Above the water’: First look at Brisbane’s air taxi service

Within just a few years, residents and visitors to Brisbane could be able to get around inside a flying taxi, new concept details show.

Air taxi services could soon be a reality in Queensland, with the first look at Skyportz’s “Vertiport” Brisbane concept released.

The electric air-taxi company unveiled its new concept at the Advanced Air Mobility Summit on the Gold Coast, featuring a route along the Brisbane River.

Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown said he wants the service to be operational in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.

An artist's impression of the new Vertiport on the Brisbane River. Picture Supplied

He said the South East Queensland region was shaping up as a prime launch market for air taxis in Australia, following in the footsteps of places like Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

“While there are a small number of cities around the world that have developed rooftop helipads, they are not the easiest places to safely land aircraft. There are usually better options, particularly in waterfront cities,” Mr Newton-Brown said.

“Some of the aircraft will likely be operated in Australia within about three years, maybe 2027.”

Skyportz’s concept for an overwater “Vertiport” in Brisbane. Picture Supplied

The vertiport design was created in collaboration with Gold Coast-based design firm Contreras Earl Architecture and UK firms Pascall+Watson and Minmud.

Skyportz also worked with former Australian Scientist of the Year Abdulghani Mohamed on wind and turbulence modelling in cities and trialling specific sites.

“We keep coming back to waterfront locations as being the safest and most logical place to install new vertiports in large cities when it comes to turbulence,” Mr Newton-Brown said.

An artist’s impression of the new Vertiport on Brisbane River. Picture Supplied

“While we presented an image of our Vertiport on the river, we think Brisbane could be serviced by a number of riverside airports. This is something which is just a concept for discussion.”

In February 2023, Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the technology would have a role in the transport network, complementing other services like the rail and metros.

“It also presents an opportunity to unlock the southeast’s tourism market by providing new connections between our coast, island and rural destinations,” Cr Schrinner said.

Mr Newton-Brown said having waterfront helipads in South East Queensland would make it easy to access urban environments and reduce government spending on land.

An artist’s impression of the new Vertiport on Brisbane River. Picture Supplied

There is also a slim chance of losing aviation corridors due to subsequent development.

“It will not be easy to find land,” he said. “Government is going to have to provide those licenses for developing infrastructure whether it be on road and rail reservations built over Crown land or on waterfronts.”

Skyportz has been assembling the pieces of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) puzzle in Australia for the past five years.

Its focus was on breaking the nexus between aviation and airports, while enabling property owners to activate their sites with vertiports.

The Australian air regulator, CASA also released its guidelines on Vertiports, signalling a commitment to facilitate AAM in Australia.

“This will give the AAM industry an opportunity to demonstrate to the community that a vertiport may be more desirable than a heliport. If communities are going to accept AAM as an industry, then gaining this ‘social licence’ is vitally important.” Mr Newton-Brown said.

Originally published as ‘Above the water’: First look at Brisbane’s air taxi service