Chinese firm AutoFlight claims it completed “the world’s first inter-city electric air-taxi” flight last month between the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

The five-seater Prosperity aircraft took around 20 minutes to complete the 50km route across the Pearl River Delta, which would take around three hours by car. It used one of 100 flightpaths that have been set out by the local government for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Prosperity’s vertical take-off capabilities eliminated the need for a runway although wings were utilised to preserve energy during cruising.

While the demonstration was uncrewed and fully autonomous, the firm believes it will get certification for crewed passenger flights within the next couple of years.

According to AutoFlight, the achievement marks the world’s first public flight of an eVTOL aircraft on a cross-sea and inter-city route.

The route between Shenzhen and Zhuhai is part of the future air traffic scenario planned...