• The Y67 Plus could change the face of urban transport by making cross city journeys in a matter of minutes. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight
    The Y67 Plus could change the face of urban transport by making cross city journeys in a matter of minutes. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight
  • A prototype of an earlier model of the Y67. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight
    A prototype of an earlier model of the Y67. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight
  • The two-seater Y6S was a precursor to the recently announced six-seat model. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight
    The two-seater Y6S was a precursor to the recently announced six-seat model. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight
  • UK firm Autonomous Flight is confident the evtol market is the future of transport. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight
    UK firm Autonomous Flight is confident the evtol market is the future of transport. Courtesy: Autonomous Flight

The six-seater electric aircraft set to make traffic jams a thing of the past


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

A new six-passenger electric aircraft, which could spell the end of frustrating traffic jams, is set to take flight by 2023.

UK firm Autonomous Flight is behind the futuristic mode of transport, known as the Y6S Plus, which will allow people to make cross-city journeys in minutes.

The company boasts the Y6S Plus can make the 24-kilometre journey from London Heathrow to Battersea Heliport in under 12 minutes, a trip that usually takes about 40 minutes by road.

A trip from Lower Manhattan to JFK Airport would only take eight minutes, claims the Autonomous Flight website. To take the 26-km trip by car takes about 22 minutes according to Google Maps.

Despite the company's name, it is envisaged that the sleek aircraft will initially be piloted.

The Y6S Plus has a cruising speed of 125 kilometres per hour and a range of 129km.

No runway will be required for the aircraft, which is classified as an electric vertical takeoff and landing (evtol) aircraft. This means it can take off and land like a helicopter.

Morgan Stanley estimates the evtol market to be $1.5 trillion by 2040.

The specs

Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 715bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh1,289,376

On sale: now

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Company%20profile
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution