Port San Antonio Proposes Flying Taxis for Project Marvel
Port San Antonio's chief executive suggests pilotless flying taxis could replace parking garages and highway connections planned for the downtown sports district.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Air Travel
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Port San Antonio President and CEO Jim Perschbach has proposed pilotless flying taxis to move people around the region for Project Marvel, the sports and entertainment district surrounding a planned downtown Spurs arena. The proposal comes after city officials eliminated an $85 million parking garage and direct highway connection from the district's infrastructure plans.
Why it matters
San Antonio is reconsidering transportation plans for Project Marvel as a preliminary parking study identified a potential shortage of more than 6,600 nearby spaces during overlapping major events. Perschbach is asking city leaders to weigh emerging aviation technology before committing public money to conventional projects.
A preliminary parking study projects a shortfall of more than 6,600 nearby spaces during overlapping major events, while an $85 million parking garage has been removed from plans. Aircraft certification for eVTOL vehicles from companies such as Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation remains unresolved.
The players
Jim Perschbach
Jim Perschbach is the President and CEO of Port San Antonio, the former Kelly Air Force Base redevelopment now home to aviation and advanced manufacturing employers.
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the U.S. agency that regulates civil aviation, including the operating rules being established for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation is a California-based company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for passenger air mobility.
Archer Aviation
Archer Aviation is a California-based company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for urban air transportation.
The details
Perschbach proposes small vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to move people around the region without additional highways, parking garages and rail infrastructure. He envisions regional flights connecting Boerne and Austin that could bypass congested Interstate 35. The Federal Aviation Administration has established operating regulations for eVTOL aircraft.
Timeline
Nov. 11, 2026, at 12 p.m.: Perschbach's interview was recorded live for The Source, a call-in program airing Mondays through Thursdays from 12-1 p.m.
Roadmap
The FAA has set operating rules for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and companies such as Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are racing to certify them. Perschbach's proposal applies that emerging air-mobility trajectory to a city deciding how to move crowds around a major downtown district.
Regional flying taxis are not yet certified or scheduled, so commuters and visitors to downtown San Antonio should continue to plan around existing roads and parking options. Any future air service would depend on aircraft certification and local approvals that have not yet occurred.
The takeaway
Emerging air-mobility technology could reshape how cities plan for crowds, but it remains years from practical use in most places. Residents should watch for certification milestones before assuming new transit options will arrive.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Air Travel news from the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Texas Public Radio.
Live Poll
Would you ride a pilotless flying taxi to avoid downtown traffic jams?
