This week at Sundance, the way to get around won't be by limo or cross-country skis, but by a helicopter you can request on-demand with the ride-sharing service Uber.
In collaboration with Airbus, a European aircraft manufacturer, Uber will extend its services to the airborne-ready set, offering rides via copter during the week of the Sundance, the largest indie film festival in the country. The central HQ of the event is at the Sundance Resort, a famous ski locale in Utah known for its heavily mountainous terrain, making helicopters a sensible choice for getting around — if you can afford it, that is.
Tom Enders, Airbus' chief executive, referred to the launch of its Uber-partnered services as a test run. "Its a pilot project, we'll see where it goes — but it's pretty exciting," Enders told the audience at the Digital Life Conference in Munich, Germany, on Jan. 17.
As of now, no details have been released regarding the financial agreement between Airbus and Uber, but it's easy to imagine how much a single ride could cost; according to The Next Web, a literal lift costs anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
But what if you have problems getting to your chopper? No worries — Uber will send a car to collect you and take you to your requested aircraft. The film festival runs from Jan. 22 through Feb. 1 at four locations around Park City and Ogden, Utah.
While this is the first time Uber has worked with Airbus or offered copter services specifically at Sundance, this isn't the first time it has experimented with flight-like services. The company previously offered rides between the Hamptons and Manhattan, San Diego and Coachella, and even in some cities in India.
Still, the question remains: like its ridesharing app, does Uber have a ChopperPool option?
Via: The Next Web
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Photo: Kai Lehmann | Flickr
