Local News
In time for the Winter Olympics in 2034, air taxis will arrive in Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah – In the not-too-distant future, flying could be an option to avoid the I-15 rush hour commute.
Governor Spencer Cox signed a historic deal Tuesday morning between 47G | Utah Aerospace & Defense and BETA Technologies, an electric aircraft manufacturer, to introduce air taxi technology and charging stations to Utah.
Up to five people or 1,250 pounds of freight could be transported by the new air taxis. The BETA Technologies website states that the taxis can travel over 350 miles on a single charge and achieve a top speed of roughly 155 miles per hour. They can also be fully charged in less than an hour.
Supported by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Utah Department of Transportation, the air taxis are anticipated to operate throughout the state in time for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
According to Governor Cox, the state is attempting to put into practice a cutting-edge air mobility plan that would give Utah residents and tourists more options for modes of transportation. According to reports, using clean technology will enhance access to jobs and other opportunities while also helping to improve air quality.
Utah is at the forefront of innovative developments in the commercial aviation sector, which will be vital to the state’s economic prospects. “Utah is leading the way in transportation, not just embracing it,” Cox said.
The deal would also invest in Utah’s charging network, building stations that would accommodate both ground-based electric vehicles and the new aircraft in addition to the taxis. Cox set aside $2 million in his fiscal year 2026 budget to finance the infrastructure for airplane charging stations.
In celebration of the agreement, UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras stated that Utah must come up with innovative ways to deal with its expanding population.
“We use more than just roads to move people and the things they need,” Braceras stated. “We are aware that advanced air mobility offers creative new solutions to meet our changing mobility needs as Utah’s population grows and our ground transportation system faces increasing demands.”
By 2045, long after the Winter Olympic Games have ended, the project is anticipated to generate $1.8 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenues in addition to improving transportation along the Wasatch Front and adding 11,000 new full-time jobs.
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