An Executive Outlook for Airlines and Airports

Advanced Air Mobility: From Concept to Commercial Reality

Report

2025

PwC Drone Powered Solutions - Global Center of Excellence in Drone and Geospatial Technologies - has prepared the report, “Advanced Air Mobility: From Concept to Commercial Reality”. It explores the transformative impact on air transport through eVTOL aircraft and examines strategic implications for airlines and airports, including market dynamics, investment trends, operational challenges, and emerging opportunities.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) represents an advanced shift in air transport, leveraging next-generation aircraft – particularly electric vertical / conventional takeoff and landing (eVTOL/eCTOL) air taxis and heavy-lift cargo drones – to deliver new mobility services across urban, regional, and remote environments. The vision of AAM is to enable fast, flexible, cost-effective, and sustainable air transportation, complementing existing aviation infrastructure while unlocking new use cases for passengers, cargo, and emergency services.

As of 2025, over 1,100 eVTOL aircraft concepts have been developed by more than 450 companies worldwide, with billions of dollars invested since 2019. Airlines and airports are increasingly recognising AAM as a critical component of future mobility strategies – whether through partnerships with eVTOL operators, multimodal connectivity, or vertiport integration.

The global AAM market, encompassing both heavy-lift cargo drones and passenger eVTOLs, is projected to grow from $11.4 billion in 2024 to $87.8 billion by 2034. Heavy-lift cargo drones are emerging as a transformative segment, enabling rapid, eco-friendly logistics in infrastructure-challenged regions. Passenger eVTOLs are nearing commercial readiness, with dozens of models in advanced testing and major airlines placing pre-orders.

As technological advancements and market commitments accelerate, airlines are increasingly investing in AAM to complement their core services, expand regional connectivity, and advance sustainability goals. Early partnerships with eVTOL manufacturers show strong potential in the sector’s future.

Airports, meanwhile, are accelerating vertiport development (dedicated infrastructure for VTOL aircraft), recognising the need to support scalable eVTOL operations and integrate AAM into existing transport networks.

The Middle East (particularly the United Arab Emirates) is moving forward with regulatory initiatives, strategic partnerships, and vertiport infrastructure development. Other regions – including North America (primarily the United States), Asia (primarily China), and Europe – are also making progress, though the pace and focus of development vary.

Looking ahead, successful AAM adoption will require airlines and airports to plan proactively, analyse markets, and address challenges early – enabling them to reduce risks, accelerate readiness, and capture long-term value in a rapidly evolving sector. This report aims to support airlines and airports with the strategic guidance needed to navigate the transition from concept to commercial reality and to secure a leadership position in the future of AAM.

PwC Drone Powered Solutions - Global Center of Excellence in Drone and Geospatial Technologies - is a trusted partner with the global presence and scope of activity to give guidance in advanced drone services and market. We bring the unique expertise and methodologies of our team, which has experience in strategic advisory, technology consulting, operations and managed services, as well as data analytics.

How can PwC Drone Powered Solutions help you?

Analysing country-specific AAM regulatory landscape along with conduction of international benchmarking, and development of frameworks along with implementation of roadmaps tailored to each country’s specifications

In-depth analysis and identification of capacity-building needs of public and private stakeholders along with the development of processes to support their collaboration in decision-making related to the AAM ecosystem

Developing comprehensive AAM strategies at both national and organisational levels, ensuring alignment with aviation and digital transformation objectives

Consulting on AAM services implementation, encompassing different market dynamics, regulatory landscapes, technological environments, and operating models

Providing expert guidance on a set of advanced technical solutions to go from a concept to commercial reality in terms of AAM vehicles and vertiports

Conducting the AAM market analysis and sizing as well as development of business plans to scale operations and services

Explore the key insights, gain a deeper understanding of the global AAM landscape development, and examine strategic implications for airlines and airports, by accessing the complete report provided below.