On the opening day of ADW, Balkiz Sarihan, head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus, announced that the company aims to operate in 120 countries in the future with small electric aircraft that can fly without a pilot. These aircraft can transport a maximum of four people between different areas over short distances of up to 80 kilometers. Volocopter will already deploy drones for passenger transport during the Summer Games in Paris. Wisk, a subsidiary of Boeing, and Lilium are also focusing on passenger transport with drones. All companies indicated that it is a long-term process. "It feels like a marathon with the finish line getting closer," says Sarihan. "We are determined to make passenger transport with drones possible, and when that happens, it will drastically change the way we move around."
Transition
Melanie van der Horst, alderman of the municipality of Amsterdam, indicated at Intertraffic that the capital is in the midst of a transition to keep the increasingly busy Amsterdam livable and accessible. Public transport, cycling, and walking play an important role in this. Jeroen Olthof, deputy of the province of North Holland, added that it is crucial to ensure good traffic flow in the city.
Authorities in Brussels and Hamburg are also considering smart mobility solutions for a sustainable future. Hamburg aims to offer a form of public transport every five minutes between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Finally, Maarten Sierhuis from Nissan demonstrated that a public transport system based on supply and demand has had a significant impact on residents in Japan.
Future mobility in the Netherlands
On both ADW and Intertraffic, the last day of the event focuses on developments in the Netherlands. During NL Drone Day on Thursday, April 18, the Dutch Fire Brigade will explain how they plan to use drones for transporting firefighters, UMCG and the Medical Drone Service will discuss how they keep healthcare accessible and available, and companies like KPN and Port of Rotterdam will showcase the opportunities drones present for them.
During the Dutch day of Intertraffic on Friday, April 19, Jeroen Olthof from the Province of North Holland will give a speech about mobility issues for cities and regions, Rijkswaterstaat will be present to debate the sustainability of our current mobility system, and Bastiaan Krosse from TNO will conclude the day with a keynote speech on how work is being done towards future-proof mobility in the Netherlands.
An overview of the three-day program of ADW 2024 can be found here: https://www.intertraffic.com/amsterdam/programme
An overview of the four-day program of Intertraffic 2024 can be found here: https://www.intertraffic.com/amsterdam/programme
Registration & accreditation
Journalists are warmly welcome to visit ADW 2024 and Intertraffic. Accreditation for ADW is possible via this link. Accreditation for Intertraffic is possible via this link.
About Intertraffic
Intertraffic is the internationally leading platform for infrastructure, traffic management, safety, parking, and smart mobility. With events in Amsterdam, China, and Mexico, Intertraffic presents a complete range of the most current mobility solutions combined with an extensive knowledge program and the latest trends and developments. Intertraffic targets policymakers, specialists, and operational staff within governments, engineering and consultancy firms, and the business community. Intertraffic Amsterdam is the largest international mobility event in the world, with 900 exhibitors from 45 countries and 35,000 professionals from more than 150 countries.
About Amsterdam Drone Week
Amsterdam Drone Week is the global platform for sharing knowledge about current drone and air solutions, innovations, and regulations. By facilitating meetings between key policymakers, knowledge institutions, and companies in the sector and addressing the challenges, ADW adds value to society. The summits, expert sessions, and matchmaking during ADW lay the foundation for future operational possibilities, regulations, technology, and solutions in the Air Mobility community worldwide.
About RAI Amsterdam
RAI Amsterdam is an international event and congress organization. Since 1893, RAI Amsterdam has brought people together, connecting and inspiring them by organizing and facilitating meaningful encounters. Whether it is a public event, a large congress, an international trade fair, a dance event, or a theater performance. In 2023, over 1.5 million visitors found their way to RAI Amsterdam. The visitors of RAI Amsterdam spend approximately 200 million euros annually in the city of Amsterdam on hotel stays, taxis, public transport, hospitality, and shops.
