The Volocopter, an umnanned flying taxi, has had a test flight with a view to providing service during the Paris 2024 Games and beyond ©Getty Images

An unmanned flying taxi that manufacturers hope will be ready to transport visitors at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has made its first test flight.

The autonomous Volocopter 2X flew for four minutes at Le Bourget airport near the French capital this week.

Local authorities, public transportation companies and airport authorities in Paris are cooperating with the German manufacturer to provide an air taxi option for the Paris 2024 Games.

"We have started our test flight campaigns, and we will do whatever it takes in the coming months and years to fulfil all requirements by the public, by the politicians, but also by the regulators, to bring air taxi services to life here in Paris," said Volocopter chief executive Florian Reuter.

President of French Ile-de-France region Valerie Pecresse, right, gets the lowdown on the proposed automatic flying taxi from Volocopter chief executive Florian Reuter ©Getty Images
President of French Ile-de-France region Valerie Pecresse, right, gets the lowdown on the proposed automatic flying taxi from Volocopter chief executive Florian Reuter ©Getty Images

Volocopter says its goal is to make local air travel affordable.

The company claims that a ride in one of its autonomous drones will cost a similar amount to a trip in a conventional taxi today.

"We work to really integrate this at scale with other modes of transportation, to make it affordable and accessible to everyone.

“Everyone taking a taxi today shall be able to use a Volocopter on selected routes," Reuter said.

Once launched, passengers will be able to hail an air taxi via an app on their phones.

The autonomous vehicles will have to take off and land at specialised landing pads.

Last year, taxi-hailing company Uber announced plans to develop flying taxis in time for Los Angeles 2028.