The Florida Department of Transportation wants flying taxis buzzing over Central Florida’s I-4 corridor by the end of 2026. Picture this: instead of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you just order an air taxi, like calling an Uber, only you’re soaring above it all.
FDOT’s already laying the groundwork. The first phase covers airports stretching from Daytona Beach, through Orlando, all the way to Sarasota. They’re not stopping there, either. In the next few months, FDOT plans to set up a headquarters in Polk County to run this aerial highway network and put the tech through its paces.
There’s still a lot to figure out, and nobody’s saying what a ride will cost yet, or exactly which aircraft the FAA will greenlight. But officials are aiming high. They expect flights over the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando to go live by the end of 2026. SunTrax in Auburndale is right at the heart of this, leading research and development for the project.
“We’re in the era of flying cars—think of it as an air Uber or air taxi,” says FDOT’s chief of staff, Jessica Ottaviano. The big idea? Cut down traffic jams along Florida’s busiest highways. The pilot program starts simple with one main route connecting major cities. If it works, they’ll connect Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Fort Myers, and more.
Ottaviano adds, “This will be the first facility in the country focusing on both modes of transportation in one spot, letting us really home in on transportation tech and research.”
These new electric aircraft, called eVTOLs, short for electric vertical takeoff and landing, are built for short hops, carrying a handful of passengers at a time. Riders will board at vertiports, set up around the state. The goal? Become the first profitable commercial flying taxi service in the country, maybe even the world.
eVTOLs use distributed electric motors for quiet, efficient vertical flight. They’re greener than helicopters, flying lower than most planes (about 1,500 to 4,000 feet) and cutting commute times by skipping ground traffic. Companies like Archer (with their Midnight model), Joby, and Lilium are racing to get FAA approval. It’s not all smooth flying—battery technology and infrastructure still need work.
No word yet on how much a trip will set you back. FDOT says different companies will set their own prices, so riders can compare and pick the best deal once the service launches.
