[AutonomousVehicles] San Antonio Air Taxi Roll-Out Plan

[pmdonahue2 at gmail.com]

Good evening everyone,

 

Here in San Antonio not only are we launching autonomous vehicles like Waymo
but we're also looking up to the sky. Below is information concerning the
roll-out of one of the first air taxi services in Texas. I'll let this
Gemini document explain everything. The document follows the video:

 

TO: Residents of San Antonio, Regional Transit Partners, and Industry
Stakeholders

FROM: The City of San Antonio and Boeing Center at Tech Port

DATE: March 7, 2026

SUBJECT: Roll-out of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Electric Air Taxi
Services

As we look toward the future of San Antonio, we are proud to announce that
the "science fiction" dreams of the 1960s are becoming a reality right here
in the Alamo City. Through a landmark partnership between the City, Port San
Antonio, and industry leaders, we are establishing San Antonio as the
premier hub for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)
aircraft-commonly known as "flying cars."

Below is the official status report on the roll-out of this transformative
network.

1. Who is behind the development of electric air taxi in San Antonio?

The initiative is led by Port San Antonio in a strategic partnership with
SkyGrid, an Austin-based subsidiary of Boeing (specifically part of Boeing's
Wisk Aero). This collaboration, finalized via a Memorandum of Understanding
in February 2026, combines Port San Antonio's 1,900-acre Tech Port campus
and Kelly Field infrastructure with SkyGrid's world-leading digital airspace
management software. The City of San Antonio and federal agencies, including
the FAA, provide regulatory and grant support to ensure the system is safely
integrated into our community.

 

2. How far along is the construction of the air taxi grid?

Construction is currently in the foundational infrastructure phase. As of
early 2026:

*	Site Preparation: Roughly 120 acres near the Tech Port headquarters
have been cleared and graded for the region's first vertiport.


*	Airfield Upgrades: Over $33.9 million (and up to $42 million in
total earmarked funds) from state and FAA grants is being used to extend
taxiways and build an access road at Kelly Field.


*	Digital Infrastructure: SkyGrid is currently mapping the local
airspace to create a "digital twin," allowing for autonomous flight rules
and AI-driven traffic management.



3. Who is supplying the air taxi vehicles to be used?

Wisk Aero, a Boeing-owned company, is the primary vehicle partner. Wisk is
currently working through FAA certification for its Generation-6 aircraft,
which is a fully autonomous, all-electric four-passenger air taxi. While
other manufacturers like Joby or Archer may eventually use the grid, the
current partnership is uniquely tied to the Boeing/Wisk/SkyGrid ecosystem.

 

4. Which parts of San Antonio will be served by this air taxi service?

The service is designed to alleviate ground traffic by connecting key
economic and transit hubs. Initial service corridors under study include:

 

*	The Hub: Port San Antonio / Kelly Field (South Side).


*	The Airport: San Antonio International Airport (SAT).
*	Regional Connections: Strategic "park and ride" style vertiports
across the Greater San Antonio area to bypass highway congestion.
*	The "Texas Triangle": Future routes are planned to connect San
Antonio to Austin and other major Texas cities.

5. How many air taxi ports will be built in the Greater San Antonio Area?

The master plan envisions a networked grid of vertiports. While the flagship
vertiport is currently under construction at Port San Antonio, the city-wide
study is identifying several additional high-traffic locations for future
expansion. The goal is to create a "multi-nodal" system where passengers can
hop between neighborhood vertiports and central business districts.

6. When is the service expected to begin operation?

The rollout will occur in phases:

*	Test Flights: Experimental and piloted demonstration flights are
expected to begin at the Tech Port campus within the next few years.
*	Full Commercial Operations: Official estimates suggest that
passenger-carrying autonomous flights will be zipping across San Antonio
skies within the decade (by 2030-2035), following the completion of FAA
type-certification for the aircraft and the finalization of digital flight
rules.

San Antonio is no longer just a city with a rich history; we are now the
city where the future takes flight. We look forward to welcoming you aboard
the first generation of San Antonio air taxis.

  _____  

Signed,

Official Representative

City of San Antonio

Official Representative

Boeing Center at Tech Port

Peter Donahue

 

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