On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia initiated the trial of a driverless aerial taxi designed to transport pilgrims between sacred locations during the Hajj season. This marks the first time a civil aviation authority has licensed an air taxi globally, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). In addition to transporting Hajj pilgrims, these air taxis will be utilized for emergency travel and to deliver medical equipment and supplies. The trial was officially commenced by Saleh Al Jasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi's General Authority of Civil Aviation. The deployment of these flying taxis for the current year's Hajj was initially declared in January. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) had plans to operate aircraft capable of carrying four to six passengers between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and hotels in Makkah.