Airbus Group SE is teaming up with Uber Technologies Inc. so that people can hitch a ride on a helicopter during this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Airbus’s H125 and H130 helicopters will be taking passengers on-demand.
Sundance Film Festival Witnesses A Great Partnership Between Uber and Airbus
Sundance Film Festival will be taking place in Park City, Utah as of January 21. Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, explained that the collaboration hopes to bring helicopters to a bigger audience. They didn’t share details on how much the ride would cost.
Airbus, based in Toulouse, makes everything from commercial airplanes to military transporters. Uber also has its hand on a series of different kinds of transportations. Uber France offers rides on motorcycles while in India people can hitch rides on rickshaws or ride boats in Istanbul. Airbus has been suffering poor sales in helicopters, which has impacted their profits. This collaboration gives Uber one more extension and gives Airbus the chance to steal the spotlight.
Airbus Brings in $150 Million to its Silicon Valley Branch
Innovation is a big deal for Airbus. Their hope is to bring some of it in through their partnership with NASA, but the French company is also investing $150 million in their Silicon Valley branch for promising aerospace startups around the globe.
Meanwhile, Taxi Still Want Taxi-Hailing Services Out of the Game
Taxi used to be the predominant mode of public transport besides buses and trains. Uber and Lyft have inevitably threatened their territory. Many taxi lobbyists are protesting both companies because it takes away from the jobs of many. The truth is, Uber and Lyft are cleaner and safer. The companies have expressed that they have full intention of bringing in self-driving cars when they become available. This will cause yet another revolution when it comes to taxi-hailing services. It will make them greener and even safer.
Uber definitely has a bigger lead in the game. They have brought in cars, boats, motorcycles and helicopters to the game. Lyft might find a way to one-up Uber from this. For now, it’s safe to say Sundance Film Festival is going to be amazing.
