What Would a Successful AAM Air Shuttle Network Look?

As discussions evolve around the introduction of advanced air mobility (AAM) into the fabric of global air transportation systems much of the dialogue has centered around the aircraft — electric vertical takeoff and landing, eVTOLs — at the heart of the revolution. But the success of AAM is about much more than aircraft. Three researchers, Thomas Hagspihl and Rainer Kolisch of the Technical University of Munich and Sebastian Schiffels of the University of Augsberg published a study in January 2025 to model how Munich, Germany might design a vertiport network with its airport at the center to entice consumers to adopt AAM as part of their travel plans.

The trio approached the challenge as a hub location problem with multiple allocation. The objective was to maximize the number of passengers who choose to reach the airport by eVTOLs operating as air taxis. They looked at passengers’ choice behavior with respect to available means of transport and an eye toward how air taxi shuttle flights can reduce travel times to Munich Airport. They speculated that eVTOLs may be used for special purposes, particularly to create feeder networks for airports.

Because of the costs to design, build, and operate the number of vertiports that can be opened at market launch is limited. Locations must therefore be chosen carefully. Furthermore, the selection of vertiport locations, as well as the construction of vertiports, will largely depend on the support of public authorities.

Initially, high ticket prices, time spent waiting to board, clearing security, and deboarding will all impact the adoption of AAM. Political concerns around noise pollution may further impede AAM’s acceptance.

The study concludes that an eVTOL-air taxi network will not be capable of significantly relieving the existing means of transport in the foreseeable future. When the networks are first put in place, passengers may only save 0.11 minutes of time. But, as the industry matures, travel time savings could save travelers 13.70 minutes on average. For an endeavor where every minute counts, that could be enough to help AAM fully reach its potential.

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