The Osaka Metro has signed a deal with eVTOL manufacturer SkyDrive to study the feasibility of using eVTOL in the Osaka area after the Osaka Expo 2025. Osaka Metro has also invested in SkyDrive, which is headquartered in Tokyo.

Osaka Metro operates eight subway lines and one New Tram, which is an automated, driverless tram. Each day, around 2.4 million passengers use the Osaka Metro rapid transit system.

The company is also advancing an urban Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) concept called “e METRO,” which integrates various modes of transport, including subways, buses, and taxis, to make Osaka city more convenient. In February 2024, Osaka Metro was selected as an operator of a vertiport outside the Expo site in Osaka.

SkyDrive and Osaka Metro have discussed vertiport operations both during and after the Expo. The two companies have recognised a shared vision and identified a strong alignment between their goals.

Under this agreement, SkyDrive and Osaka Metro will explore detailed business plans and operations to determine how they can practically use eVTOL technology.

Osaka Metro is the direct legal successor to the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau, which operated the subway as the Osaka Municipal Subway. Osaka Metro operates a subway network of 137.8 kilometres with nine lines across central Osaka.