Chinese air mobility company EHang’s flagship EH216-S aircraft has completed central Asia’s first pilotless human-carrying flight of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Astana, Kazakhstan.

During last week’s Games of the Future, the EH216-S conducted multiple route flights over the event venue in Astana, carrying Nurlan Sauranbayev, minister of transport of Kazakhstan, and other guests.

As the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana serves as an important hub connecting Europe and Asia. Its temperate continental climate and open airspace environment provide favourable conditions for autonomous air mobility (AAM) applications and flight operations.

In June, Kazakhstan established a national initial regulatory framework for eVTOL aircraft, vertiports and unmanned aircraft traffic management systems. Two months later, the EH216-S has completed its first pilotless human-carrying flight under this regulatory framework.

In 2025, EHang (www.ehang.com) signed a memorandum of understanding with Allur Group (allur.kz), one of Kazakhstan’s largest automotive manufacturers, to develop emerging markets jointly for AAM in central Asia.

According to the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan (www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/transport), the first phase of the project will focus on demonstration and tourist flights lasting between five and 30 minutes, showcasing the country’s natural, cultural and historical landmarks. In the future, the autonomous aircraft could become part of the urban transportation network, complementing existing modes of transportation.

To date, EHang’s EH216-S has expanded its flight footprint to 23 countries across five continents.