It appears that visitors to next year’s World Expo in Osaka will not be able to enjoy the fun and convenience of flying taxis.
Operators of the next-generation vehicles say they have scrapped plans to offer what would have been Japan’s first commercial services of their kind.
Sources say Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings are being hit with delays in obtaining safety certifications for the vehicles in and outside Japan.
They will reportedly conduct demonstration flights only without passengers.
Major trading firm Marubeni and venture company SkyDrive say they will be doing the same. Both have already announced the cancellation of their flying-taxi plans.
The Expo is scheduled to kick off next April. Officials are expected to discuss alternative plans in the near future.