In Alatau City, the first demonstration flight of an eVTOL - an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft known as an air taxi—has taken place, marking a first for Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
The AutoFlight Prosperity took to the skies, showcasing the transport of the future: fast, emission-free, and now, no longer just a theory.
Kazakhstan has become the first in the region to present a full urban air mobility ecosystem, including air taxis, delivery drones, and digital navigation.
The project is fully funded by private investment from the Kazakhstani company Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. (AAAG) in partnership with leading technology players from the USA, China, South Korea, and Italy. Total investment in the development of urban air mobility in the region is estimated at $300 million.
The main event of the presentation was the flight of the AutoFlight Prosperity passenger craft, designed for one pilot and five passengers. It is equipped with 13 electric motors, reaches speeds of up to 200 km/h, and can cover up to 200 km on a single charge. Unlike traditional aviation, this vehicle operates almost silently and produces no harmful CO₂ emissions. In accordance with strict international safety requirements, the first test flight was performed without passengers on board.
The development of innovative, eco-friendly transport aligns directly with the country’s long-term strategy for digitalization and technological leadership.
"Today, Kazakhstan is taking a major step in the development of next-generation transport. eVTOL demonstration flights show that breakthrough urban air mobility technologies are moving from concept to practical reality. For Alatau City, this represents the formation of new smart city infrastructure. We are talking about creating an entire ecosystem from air taxis and vertiports to digital navigation and cargo drones. This is how the 'low-altitude economy' is beginning to develop in Kazakhstan. We are creating the conditions for such solutions to enter the country, adapt to our cities, and improve the quality of life for citizens, business development, and Kazakhstan’s technological competitiveness," noted Zhaslan Madiev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.
Organizers emphasize that this is not just about using individual aircraft, but about creating a new industry - the "low-altitude economy." The event also featured unmanned cargo delivery systems from Keeta Drone (China) and A2Z (USA), managed by the UATM digital navigation platform developed by South Korean and Chinese partners (Korea Airports Corporation and Shenzhen Urban Transportation Planning Center). According to forecasts by leading global analysts such as Morgan Stanley and McKinsey, urban air mobility will become a key global economic sector in the coming decades.
To integrate air taxis into everyday life, construction has already begun on the first vertiport in Alatau City - a compact, high-tech ground facility for take-off, landing, and charging. The design is being handled by the international company UrbanV. In the future, a unified air network will connect Alatau City, Almaty, and key tourist locations in the Almaty region. For example, the estimated travel time from Almaty Airport to the Medeu high-mountain resort will be just 10–12 minutes.
"Our task is not just to bring in technology, but to create a full-fledged industry: infrastructure, engineering expertise, and new jobs for Kazakhstani specialists. Alatau City is being designed from scratch, which is a unique advantage, as air mobility can be integrated into the city’s master plan from very beginning," representatives of Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. shared.
On May 8, 2026, the Head of State signed the Constitutional Law "On the Special Legal Regime of Alatau City," which provides for the creation of experimental legal regimes and special air zones for Urban Air Mobility. Currently, AAAG, in cooperation with government agencies, is involved in drafting approximately 40 regulations forming the "air code" of the new city, and corresponding amendments to national aviation legislation are already under consideration by the Mazhilis of Parliament.
