I think the real constraint/application Will be in places that don’t actually have good straight line infrastructure from point A to point B (say the airport). In suburbs, I think the rise of self driving cars that can coordinate with all of the traffic on the road, thus allowing for average trip speeds to increase to 40 mph +, will be more realistic and efficient using our current infrastructure. But in places like Manhattan, Washington DC or San Francisco Bay area, where pieces of water prevent straight lines driving, air travel makes sense.

So, to your point, these more specialized/restricted areas will probably have dedicated VTOL ports, but I would doubt this will pop up in every little suburb.

☝️.......true or not it better they better make money and not lose any off this investment.

Face meet palm. The chances of a United passenger riding on anything close to this in the next 20 years is zero. Dreams are important though. That probably is at the crux of it, mainly PR.

This whole thing is nothing more than virtue signaling.

Not sure about that. The first airline that can combine local transportation to the airport (eliminating the time and cost of getting to the airport and parking fees) with the total trip and include it in a single ticket purchase might have a huge advantage over the competition.

Had the same thought. Probably gives some of the more Green New Deal-promoting Members of Congress psychological cover when voting to send another $14B to an industry that by necessity involves spewing tons of carbon into the upper atmosphere.

Didn’t Pan Am have helicopter service from large metro areas to airports back in the day?

do you think that people who can afford a helicopter to the airport are going to ride commercial? Our first class pax are largely free upgrades. A very small % actually buy the seat. Coach folks- no way. So how big is the market really going to be? After reading all the info, I’m inclined to believe the PR/virtue signaling arguments. The business side just doesn’t seem plausible, at least not for a looooooong time.

Yes. They had rooftop heliports in NY city.

It would be largely business and first classes I am sure. Not all wealthy individuals own private planes. Many don't see the need or fly enough to make the numbers work.