Op-Ed: Designs for Uber's Skyports Fail on the Basics

The hulking structures proposed to handle UberAIR's fleet of flying taxis won't be able to serve 4,000 passengers per hour. And that's just one of their many deficiencies, Alissa Walker writes.

2 minute read

June 1, 2018, 7:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Uber

frank60 / Shutterstock

Alissa Walker excoriates a set of designs for the "skyports" Uber wants to install in cities to serve UberAIR, its ambitious plan to make autonomous flying taxis a reality. "As they stand now, these hulking structures are essentially just freeway ramps—limited capacity, car-centric infrastructure that would take up a lot of space in our cities but serve only one purpose—and even getting them to work as well as existing freeways will be challenging."

Walker goes through a laundry list of criticisms, beginning with the steep logistical challenges involved. Furthermore, she writes, "this is clearly car-centric infrastructure, even if it's all about the air. Because you will be getting to the UberAIR terminal via your Uber car, of course." The plans tend to locate the hulking skyports next to or over existing freeways.

Another problem: "many of [the designs] appear to be the tallest building in the neighborhoods they serve, and god bless any architect who believes he might be able to convince a homeowners' association on LA's lawsuit-happy Westside to build a small airport on top of a brand-new skyscraper."

Should they ever become a reality, "Uber's skyports should be places that provide a myriad of additional benefits for neighborhoods—and don't create any additional car trips." Of course, this idea is still in its earliest stages, and Uber hasn't yet settled on what kind of VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft would work here, if any.

Thursday, May 17, 2018 in Curbed

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

April 27 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

April 27 - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY