An official decree allows the pad to operate until 31 December, 2024, following months of uncertainty about whether the flying taxis would be used during the Games from 26 July to 11 August.

The pad will float near Austerlitz railway station in southeastern Paris, with flights restricted to two per hour, from 8:00am to 5:00pm, and a total of 900 flights over the trial period due to the experimental nature of the technology.

The project, involving Paris airport operator ADP and Germany’s Volocopter, features the “Volocity” two-seater with 18 electric rotors on a circular frame. The aim is to demonstrate the technology’s potential for linking “vertiport” sites.

While there are already four vertiports in the suburbs of Paris, the Austerlitz pad will be the first within the city. Proponents view flying taxis as a low-carbon aviation solution and envision future uses like ambulances.

However, many Paris city officials criticise the project as environmentally harmful. Sources close to Mayor Anne Hidalgo revealed plans to challenge the landing pad permit in court. It comes after the long-lasting controversy of the Seine's water levels and cleanliness.

France’s national environment authority found the impact assessment “incomplete,” particularly regarding noise, energy use, and emissions. Additionally, the taxis lack certification from the EU’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), meaning the flights will only be free demonstrations during the Games.