A made-in-China automated electric air taxi took off in Africa for the first time this week, as a new generation of Chinese low-altitude aircraft attracts growing interest from global buyers.
It took to the skies during the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, a major industry event involving 34 countries that was held in the Rwandan capital of Kigali on Thursday and Friday.
Rwanda arranged the test flight in partnership with China Road and Bridge Corporation, a Chinese state-owned construction and engineering firm, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday based on information from the Rwandan government.
“This partnership aims to reinforce Rwanda’s position on the continent at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge aviation technology,” the Rwanda Heart of Africa promotional Facebook page said on Thursday.
Rwanda, a landlocked nation of 14.2 million people with a growing tourism sector, is pushing to develop better air transport links as a way of cutting urban congestion and air pollution, according to African media reports.
The country is looking for “investment and technology partners” to elevate its air mobility sector, Xinhua said.
