Málaga is ahead of its time. The airport on the Costa del Sol is becoming the first in Spain – and one of the first in Europe – to become a test centre for a new form of mobility, air taxis. As early as mid-2025, the first test flights will begin, and by 2030, a journey by flying taxi from Málaga to Marbella is expected to take just 15-20 minutes.
Innovation in aviation
Malaga Airport has embarked on a ground-breaking project involving a new category of air mobility that could revolutionise the way people travel between and within cities. The tests will be carried out in collaboration with Enaire’s research and development centre in Madrid, as well as with the participation of Málaga’s flight controllers and Aena engineers.
Initially, the flying taxis will be operated by pilots, but fully autonomous flights are planned in the medium term. The project is exploring the possibility of coexistence between classic and modern air traffic, with an emphasis on safety and integration into the airspace.
New accessible urban mobility
The air taxis – also known as eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) – will be all-electric and will also enable vertical take-off and landing. The aim of the project is to create not only an innovative, but also an affordable transport solution – not only for those with lavish wallets, but also for any user looking for accessible transport solutions.
In parallel, the OperA project is underway to integrate the airport with urban mobility under the banner of door-to-door, with the support of passenger and courier drones. One of the key elements of the infrastructure will be the Vertiport, a specialised terminal, suitable for handling this type of aircraft.
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Faster connection between Malaga and Marbella
Imagine this: you land at Malaga airport, go through a quick check-in at the Vertiport area and board an air taxi that takes you – without traffic jams or noise – to Marbella, Fuengirola or even outside the city – in just a dozen minutes.
Flights between Malaga and Marbella are expected to take 15-20 minutes, while flights to Granada are expected to take around 50 minutes. This is a future that is already fast approaching. The first test air route will run from Malaga airport to Granada, running along the coast.
Flights will take place at an altitude of 500 – 2,000 feet so as not to interfere with commercial traffic. They are planned through the Loja area, avoiding difficult terrain and high mountains. Supporting infrastructure, including a dedicated air route, is being built close to the A-7 motorway and Runway 13.
The project’s main technology partner is German company Lilium, which has developed an all-electric jet-powered air taxi. Lilium Jet:
- accommodates 4-6 passengers,
- achieves a range: 250-300 km,
- has a cruising speed of 280 km/h,
- years at altitudes of up to 3 000 m.
To complement the project, drone deliveries and the development of coordinated airspace management are also planned to enable coexistence with emergency and police flights.
Thanks to innovative projects, Málaga Airport is becoming not only a gateway to a tourist paradise, but also a symbol of the future of transport in Europe. Soon travel on the Costa del Sol will be faster, quieter and greener than ever before.
