US all-electric air taxi developer Wisk Aero is bringing the future of flight to Australia through a new partnership with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland. Wisk's entry into Australia is driven by an MoU with Queensland local government that will see the two organisations introduce safe, sustainable and scalable, autonomous air taxi service to south east Queensland. In addition, the company will also be expanding its physical presence in the country with the addition of Australia-based personnel.

CEO Gary Gysin says: “We are proud to engage with forward-thinking local leaders, like the Council of Mayors, to advance the introduction of AAM and benefit not only Wisk, but local communities and the industry as a whole. This is an exciting time for us, as we continue our momentum and expand our global presence. We look forward to building on the strong relationships we have in Australia to make safe, all-electric, autonomous flight a reality.”

The Council of Mayors chair, Brisbane Lord Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner, says the MOU will support engagement with the region's councils on the introduction of the autonomous air mobility industry, including operators like Wisk, into south east Queensland. He says the region offers a mix of rural, beach and city landscapes, making it the perfect location to trial and launch new and innovative industries.

Wisk intends for its presence in Queensland to be long term and will be working with local government toward providing the city with green tourism and transport options. The company will also be displaying its fifth generation aircraft in Brisbane in July.

Lord Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner says: “Strong collaboration between our councils is critical to ensure the industry understands the needs of our communities. It also enables our councils to support, wherever possible, a consistent and collaborative approach to things like planning and regulation that will be critical to investment and rollout across our region. Council of Mayors kickstarted our Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games journey because we knew it would attract global businesses and innovative industries to our region, bringing with it new jobs and new economic opportunities. On the back of the Brisbane 2032 Games, we're delighted to be working with Wisk to look at how south east Queensland can capitalise off the new jobs and economic opportunities associated with this new and exciting industry. We expect to see the emergence of advanced air technology in places like Paris and Los Angeles, and by 2032 I'd love to see it supporting new and innovative experiences for tourism and travel in south east Queensland.”

Wisk Asia Pacific regional director Catherine MacGowan adds: “This new partnership is a great starting point for our expansion across Australasia. Our work has the potential to accelerate the introduction of emissions-free aviation, help reduce transport-driven carbon emissions and realise the benefits of AAM for the Queensland state economy and the wellbeing of its citizens.”