![A NASA illustration depicts the idea of a future air taxi hovering over a municipal vertiport. [Rendering: NASA/Lillian Gipson and Kyle Jenkins]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DRC-NTCOG-NASA-970.jpg)
When thousands of soccer fans arrive in North Texas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup they may be looking to the sky as a way to get around Arlington and the rest of DFW via flying taxis.
The University of Texas at Arlington said one of its researchers is looking at the best spots to locate vertiports, the specialized hubs for aircraft to take off and land vertically.
Jinzhu Yu is an assistant professor in the university’s Department of Civil Engineering, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments has asked him to identify those ideal vertiport locations.
“Our goal is to identify locations that maximize convenience and efficiency while minimizing impacts on existing transportation networks and communities,” Yu said in a statement. “With the surge in visitors expected during the World Cup, having an efficient air mobility system will be strongly beneficial in managing transportation demands.”
UTA said that Yu and his team are using advanced data analytics, modeling, and optimization techniques to evaluate potential vertiport sites and consider key factors such as population density, socioeconomic status, traffic demand, accessibility to major event venues, and environmental impact.
Vertiports likely will be positioned at major airports across Dallas-Fort Worth because those sites already have the infrastructure to support aircraft operations, including maintenance, fueling, and passenger services.
UTA said that Yu acknowledges it likely will take time for widespread adoption of flying taxis.
“New technology takes time, from earning public trust to working out the kinks in the infrastructure and routes to bringing down operational costs,” Yu said.
Air taxis have one major advantage, Yu said. They are able to integrate with existing aviation infrastructure, such as air traffic control and safety systems, while helping to ease congestion on traditional highways and roads.
UTA said the research team’s findings will be shared with local governments and industry partners to guide future infrastructure investments and policy development.
Even more, the project could give a glimpse into a future where flying taxis are a complementary transportation option—not just here, but across the globe, UTA said.
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