How Brits will soon board planes to Benidorm on their doorstep with NO pilots – but it’s up to you whether they take off

FORGET the 4am dash to the airport and the endless queues at check-in — your next flight to Benidorm could be aboard a plane with no pilot at all taking off right outside your house.

Brits are closer than ever to boarding self-flying aircraft for short-haul holidays, as futuristic aircraft powered by AI get ready to take to the skies.

And with budget airlines like running one of most modern fleets, the leap to pilotless planes could be closer than you think – a move that could save the industry billions of dollars.

The idea of zipping off to Benidorm or in a plane with no one at the controls might sound terrifying to some, but insiders insist it could soon become a normal reality.

Aviation expert Julian Bray predicts that by 2050, hopping into a self-flying plane for a sunny escape to Spain will feel as normal as booking a seat on a low-cost airline today.

He told Flying Eze: “Realistically, we are almost there because China already has a flying taxi called eVTOl, which stands for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle. And that's just the beginning.

“The technology can do it — it’s just a matter of time and public acceptance.”

Airborne revolution

In California, Xwing — a startup modifying Cessna 208 cargo aircraft — is aiming to launch fully autonomous commercial operations this year, Forbes reports.

Its aircraft are already flying automated missions with just one safety pilot onboard to meet current regulations.

Once certified, the company hopes to expand into passenger flights by the end of the decade.

Even the planes are ready to launch, and there are some surprising benefits for airlines and passengers when you remove the need for a human pilot.

Without the need for a cockpit, autonomous aircraft can instantly carry more passengers adding an extra seat on smaller planes – A six-seater becomes a seven-seater.

Xwing expects that regional self-flying aircraft will cover short-hop routes like those favoured by holidaymakers heading to sun-soaked hotspots across Europe.

Manufacturers are already .

Brazilian firm Eve Air Mobility — backed by aerospace giant Embraer — has built up a whopping pre-order book of 2,900 electric flying taxis.

These sleek, silent aircraft can hit speeds of 115mph and are designed to glide across cities or coastlines, landing vertically in tiny spaces.

Some could be in service as early as next year, the company's CEO

For UK holidaymakers dreaming of warmer weather, that means the days of or might soon be replaced with simply summoning a flying cab from your local pad – and for the perfect getaway.

“You could pick you up nearer to your home or nearer to your holiday destination,”; says Bray.

“And that has got to be good.”;

The technology can do it — it’s just a matter of time and public acceptance Julian Brayaviation expert

And while are already cheap, autonomous aircraft could eventually cut prices further by avoiding expensive airport charges, Bray explained.

Landing zones could be smaller, simpler and closer to home – more like helipads than terminals.

“You might not need to keep a schedule,”; the expert added.

“Like a taxi, you would summon it up and enter your flight plan. And then you’ll go.”;

Are pilotless planes safe?

Though the concept may sound space-age, much of the tech is already there, Bray revealed.

Today's commercial pilots only manually fly for around 12 to 20 minutes per trip – the rest is handled by automation.

In fact, Bray says that modern planes can already take off and land by themselves. We just don’t let them.

Even the safety systems are prepped for emergencies.

If something goes on mid-air, these aircraft are programmed to safely return to base or land themselves in a nearby open space.

“It just needs a patch of land, and down it comes,”; Bray says.

And there are plenty of real-world examples of autopilot stepping in to underline the importance of backup systems.

In 2016, a US Air Force F-16 autopilot system saved a student pilot’s life when he blacked out mid-flight, according to The Verge.

But it’s not always good news. In 1994, Aeroflot Flight 593 crashed after the autopilot disengaged when the pilot’s child nudged the controls — a chilling reminder of how human error can still play a role.

In October 2023, a Corendon Airlines 737-800 approaching Düsseldorf suffered an autopilot failure, forcing the crew to land manually, Aviation Herald reported.

You could pick you up nearer to your home or nearer to your holiday destination Julian Brayaviation expert

That’s why manufacturers are building in safety nets, including manual override features and remote pilot options.

While fully autonomous, many eVTOLs in testing — like those from EHang — are still supervised by a safety pilot or operator who can step in if needed, according to EHang’s official site.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)has also started drawing up operating rules for “powered-lift”; aircraft to make sure they meet strict safety standards, FlightGlobal reports.

But while the skies may soon be filled with these “flying cars”, the real turbulence also lies in public acceptance.

A global survey in 2017 found that the majority of travellers were unwilling to board a pilotless plane, even if tickets were cheaper.

In the US, 81% of people said they’d be uncomfortable flying without a pilot at the helm.

But Bray believes that will change with time — especially if the benefits are clear.

He says: “People don’t like change, and they don’t like something that’s new, unless somebody else tries them first.”;

FAA officials in the US have begun working with manufacturers to build certification programs, — but resistance remains.

Pilot unions are already sounding the alarm, warning of safety risks and over-reliance on untested tech.

Europe’s aviation watchdog has said it won’t even consider relaxing two-pilot flight deck rules until 2030.

There is also a matter of infrastructure. Vertical landing pads, charging ports, and completely new air traffic management systems all need to be built.

Eve Air Mobility's CEO Johann Bordais previously told Flying Eze: “The roadblock will be ecosystem readiness, not technology.”;

Behind the scenes, airlines and aircraft makers are quietly pushing for change.

“It’s all about money,”; Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer told Forbes.

“Manufacturers are looking for the next innovative technology to deploy so that they can sell it and make money, and airlines are looking at how they can do this more cheaply.”;

A 2018 UBS report suggested autonomous planes could save the aviation industry $35 billion a year.

And because of all the safety and bureaucracy hurdles, many experts think fully autonomous air travel will roll out gradually.

But with China already plotting to have 100,000 flying cars in its skies by 2030, and later this decade, the future is accelerating fast.