The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is looking to utilize flying transport vehicles to help alleviate traffic congestion and to help transport goods quickly.

A draft roadmap for the project was announced on February 12, with demo flights to start in 2026, and commercial operations in some areas to start between fiscal 2027 and 2028.

The project is also aiming to have the flying cars utilized widely in urban areas starting in fiscal 2030.

According to officials, take-off and landing sites would be near rivers and the ocean for safety reasons, with the aim of using the vehicles for travel between cities and airport access.

Airlines, developers, and other private sector companies attended a public-private consultation meeting for the project held at the metropolitan government on February 12.

Participants said that they would like to work with the central government and Tokyo to improve infrastructure regarding the take-off and landing sites.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko is enthusiastic about the project, saying the public and private sectors will combine their efforts to overcome constraints and move forward steadily.

Tokyo's draft budget for 2025 includes 390 million yen allocated for flying cars, but it remains to be seen if they will become a reality in the skies of Tokyo in the near future.