New Ways to Travel in 2024: Space Balloons, eVTOL, & More

2024 is here, and with it? A suitcase brimming with innovative new ways to travel. You’ll soon be able to swap an Uber ride for an emission-free, personalized flying device, purchase the most hands-free car ever available on the market, and take a jaunt into the stratosphere, a state-of-the-art balloon.

These aren’t scenes from a sci-fi movie – they’re the real future of travel, and it’s here. So fasten your seatbelts and let’s explore the transportation breakthroughs that will define 2024.

eVTOL: The Future of Urban Travel

2 seats, 18 rotors, and endless possibilities: The VoloCity air taxi is an all-electric aircraft with the ability to vertically take off and land. — 2 seats, 18 rotors, the VoloCity air taxi is an all-electric aircraft with the ability to vertically take off and land. (Image via volcopter.com)

Volocopter’s eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) technology, particularly the VoloCity aircraft, could potentially revolutionize urban air mobility. In partnership with Groupe ADP and the French Civil Aviation Authority, Volocopter aims to introduce a new mode of transportation during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The transportation is designed to carry one pilot and one passenger. And, it is emission-free.

The VoloCity aircraft will operate from five initial “vertiports” in Paris. The intention is to expand coverage across the city region over the next decade. The aircraft will fly at altitudes below 500 meters. They are designed to be inaudible from ground level in urban environments.

For the Paris Olympics, the eVTOL flights will connect key locations like Charles de Gaulle Airport and Le Bourget Airport. They will offer both connection routes and tourist round-trip flights. This introduction of eVTOL services in Paris is part of a larger modernize urban transportation networks.

5G Technology: For Innovative Travel

5G will improve how we travel — 5G will be a catalyst for new ways to travel in 2024

In 2024, 5G technology is going to explode. With its high-speed connectivity, 5G is more than 1,000 times faster than 4G LTE, and has low latency. 5G will enhance the delivery of virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) experiences. It will make them more immersive and interactive. Digital concierges and AI-driven tourist guides will be able to provide personalized experiences without the lag.

Interestingly, 5G technology will also help destinations offer better crowd management. It will also help you find lesser-known tourist attractions. For instance, apps like ‘Feel Florence‘ and ‘CheckBarcelona‘ use real-time data to guide tourists to less crowded areas and hidden gems, powering up new ways to explore crowded but must-see cities.

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot: New Standards in Hands-Free Driving

The Mercedes-Benz EQS (Image via mbusa.com)

In 2024, Mercedes-Benz is set to introduce Level 3 semi-autonomous driving technology in the United States with its EQS and S-Class models. Dubbed ‘Drive Pilot’, this system allows for hands-free driving under certain conditions (such as heavy traffic or on suitable highways at speeds). More than any other car currently on the market, the EQs showcases a leap in new ways to travel by road.

Space Balloon Tourism: The Sky’s No Longer the Limit

Spaceship Neptune is lifted to space by our Space Balloon, propelled by renewable hydrgen. — Spaceship Neptune is lifted to space by a Space Balloon, propelled by hydrogen.

Hot air ballooning over Cappadocia is about to meet its match! In 2024, space tourism via balloon will begin to offer a unique and more accessible way for people to experience near-space travel.

The Japanese startup Iwaya aims to launch ‘near-space tourism’ via balloon by 2024. Their plan is to use a helium-filled balloon to carry passengers 15.5 miles above the ground–high above commercial airliners. The views of Earth from near-space come at a lower cost than traditional space tourism. Iwaya plans to make commercial flights available in March 2024 at $164,000 per passenger, a more affordable option compared to other space tourism ventures.

For instance, Virgin Galactic charges $450,000 per flight, and SpaceX’s passengers have reported paying $55 million for trips to the International Space Station on Crew Dragon.

Another key player in this emerging market is Space Perspective with their spaceship Neptune. This system uses a 650-foot-tall balloon filled with hydrogen. It is expected to reach an altitude of nearly 20 miles. The spacious cabin can accommodate eight passengers. The six-hour flight culminates in a gentle descent and ocean splashdown. Space Perspective has already sold over 600 tickets for the Neptune space balloon at $125,000 each.