The development of the CityAirbus NextGen, a promising project in the field of urban air mobility, will be paused for the time being. As the European aerospace group Airbus announced on January 27, 2025, technological uncertainties are at the heart of the decision. This development could have far-reaching consequences for the European aviation industry, which is already struggling with financial difficulties among its competitors.
The CityAirbus NextGen, developed by Airbus Helicopters, was intended to revolutionize the future of urban mobility. The fully electric aircraft was designed to transport up to four people - three passengers and a pilot - over a distance of 80 kilometers. With a cruising speed of around 120 kilometers per hour and the ability to take off and land vertically, it was considered a groundbreaking concept in the field of electric aviation.
Since the project was presented, Airbus had stressed that safety and technological feasibility were its top priority. This was one of the reasons why the manufacturer avoided making concrete promises about a possible market entry. As recently as June 2024, a CityAirbus representative pointed out at an aviation conference in London that it was crucial to make realistic assessments of the technological challenges rather than being driven by unrealistic timelines.
First test flights and the surprising stop
It was only in November 2024 that an unmanned CityAirbus NextGen demonstration model completed its maiden flight in Donauwörth, Bavaria. The successful test was celebrated by Airbus as a milestone in development, but just a few weeks later the announcement followed that further development of the project would be halted for the time being.
According to Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even, the current technological limitations of batteries are the decisive factor in the decision. "We currently do not see any battery technology that reliably meets the requirements for range, performance and cost-effectiveness," explained Even.
Impact on the Air Mobility Industry
Airbus' decision comes at a time when the European market for electric aircraft is already under pressure. The German companies Lilium and Volocopter, both pioneers in the field of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), have run into financial difficulties in recent months. Both companies are struggling with rising development costs and difficulties in raising capital.
The challenges are not only financial in nature, but also affect the technological maturity of the industry. Many eVTOL manufacturers are facing similar problems to Airbus: battery technology remains the key factor slowing progress. Range, charging times and the limited energy density of current batteries make it difficult to implement the ambitious concepts.
Continuation of test flights as an intermediate step
Despite the announced pause, Airbus plans to continue test flights of the CityAirbus NextGen demonstrator in 2025. The data collected will lay the foundation for future developments. Airbus is keeping the option open to resume the project at a later date when technological advances in the field of batteries make it realistic to implement.
The decision to halt the CityAirbus NextGen for the time being could be seen as a signal for the entire urban air mobility industry. While the vision of autonomous, electric flying taxis for cities remains attractive, the Airbus case shows how much technological and economic challenges can slow down progress.
For Airbus, the pause in the project does not represent a complete departure from air mobility. Rather, the company remains committed to securing its position in this future-oriented market – albeit under realistic technological and economic conditions.