Plans for electric 'flying taxis' to conduct experimental flights during the Paris Olympics have been canceled due to delays in engine certification.

The project, which has been in discussion since late 2020, has faced setbacks as Volocopter has not secured timely certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for carrying paying passengers.

Critics have labeled Volocopter's plans as elitist and environmentally damaging, with Paris City Hall describing the air taxis as a 'useless and hyper-polluting gadget.'

Originally, the flights were intended to launch from a platform on the Seine near Austerlitz, capitalizing on the global attention during the Olympics.

The ministerial order authorizing the operation of the Austerlitz platform is valid until the end of December, but recent rulings by the French State Council rejected requests for temporary takeoff and landing sites in central Paris.

Despite the criticism, the project received backing from former Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete, who emphasized its potential benefits for emergency medical transport rather than luxury travel.

French authorities have highlighted the aircraft's potential for medical evacuations and organ transport, shifting focus away from the concept of a 'flying taxi.'

In light of the setbacks, Volocopter is in talks to secure additional funding to support its operations and plans to develop a new four-seat aircraft expected to be ready by late 2026 or early 2027.

Despite the disappointment over canceled public test flights, Volocopter and ADP aim to conduct a demonstration flight by the end of the year from a floating platform on the Seine.

Demonstrations with a prototype of the Volocity aircraft, designed by Volocopter, are scheduled to take place at the Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole aerodrome, although these flights will be unmanned.

Looking ahead, Volocopter aims to conduct two years of test flights around Paris post-Olympics to build public trust in its eVTOL technology.