Flying cars could become part of Japan's transport mix within a year, bringing a futuristic twist to daily commutes and leisure trips alike.
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The Japanese government has begun making arrangements to permit the operation of commercial flying car services carrying paying passengers as early as 2027 or 2028.
Operations are expected to begin with sightseeing flights in urban areas, before eventually expanding to point-to-point services such as routes linking cities and airports. Passenger transportation by flying car, seen as a potential once-in-a-century revolution in mobility, now appears to be becoming a reality sooner rather than later.
“Flying car” is a broad term for electrically powered vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing. They typically seat only a few people, are relatively quiet and require only small landing areas, making them easier to operate even in densely built urban environments. They are expected to help ease traffic congestion in cities and provide a new transportation option in regional areas.
Applications have already been submitted to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry for type certification under the Civil Aeronautics Law. As part of the process to mass-produce aircraft, safety and other standards must be met. The government appears to have concluded that the review process is moving forward in a way that makes the start of commercial operations feasible.
Early commercial service will likely take the form of waterfront sightseeing flights in Tokyo and Osaka. Within two to three years after that, the scope is expected to widen to include short-distance travel between two points and routes linking major airports such as Narita and Kansai with nearby cities.
Competition among companies developing flying cars is already intensifying.
At the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, demonstration flights were conducted without passengers on board. In Tokyo, two consortiums were selected last year for the metropolitan government's flying car implementation project, one made up of nine companies including Japan Airlines Co. and another involving seven companies including Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Beginning this fiscal year, full-scale demonstration flights using actual aircraft are set to get underway in Tokyo's waterfront areas and elsewhere.
International rules governing flying cars are not yet formulated, but Japan's transport ministry has already established safety measures, including performance requirements for their batteries and a mandate to carry life jackets for flights over water. That gives Japan a position from which it can take the lead in setting the rules for commercial operations.
The government also intends to support the development of flying cars themselves. Last year, the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced 17 strategic sectors that it would prioritise, and the list included aviation and space.