Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. has completed Osakako Vertiport, a new eVTOL facility in Osaka, Japan. The vertiport will be used by SkyDrive, an Aichi-based company preparing to provide commercial eVTOL services, for demo flights taking place as part of the Expo programme.

Osaka Metro, which operates nine metro lines and an automated, driverless service known as the New Tram, aims to make Osaka a more convenient and comfortable city. As part of this mission, the company is promoting ‘e Metro’, an urban MaaS initiative designed to provide a unified mobility service that integrates future eVTOL flights.

SkyDrive’s SD-05 eVTOL aircraft offer a new form of aerial mobility that enables fast and efficient short-to-medium distance travel. When combined with traditional transport options such as buses and subways, the SD-05 could provide unique, high-value leisure travel experiences.

Recognising the transformative potential of eVTOL aircraft, Osaka Metro entered into a partnership with SkyDrive in August 2024 to create an ideal mix of mobility options for the city. In January 2024, Osaka Metro was selected through an open bidding process to operate the Expo venue vertiport in Osaka’s Minato Ward. Since then, Osaka Metro has been developing the vertiport at Osaka Port’s Chuo Pier. During the Expo, SkyDrive is scheduled to operate demo flights between the Expo Vertiport, located within the Expo site, and the Osakako Vertiport.

The name of the vertiport references the nearby Osaka Ko station on Osaka Metro’s Chuo Line, and its facilities include a hangar for maintenance, refuelling and eVTOL storage. As well as a takeoff and landing area, it features a passenger facility where users can experience the simulated check-in and boarding of a mock-up eVTOL aircraft using facial recognition technology. The vertiport is designed to serve as a mobility hub, connecting eVTOL services with other transport options, such as on-demand buses and shared bicycles.

A ceremony was held in collaboration with Osaka City to mark the occasion, at which speakers shared their expectations for the future of the facility and SkyDrive unveiled a full-scale mock-up of its SD-05 aircraft. Members of the press were invited on board afterwards. From mid-April, the vertiport will host public events to showcase the development of eVTOL technology and allow visitors to experience the mocked-up eVTOL boarding process.