How am I insured as a passenger in an air taxi in Germany?
In short
As a passenger in an air taxi in Germany you are first protected by the operator: it is liable for your injury in an accident on board even without fault, and EU law requires it to insure at least 250,000 special drawing rights, about EUR 300,000, per passenger. Your private accident insurance pays on top, because the German model conditions only exclude pilots and crew. It usually costs EUR 60 to 180 a year.
There is no separate insurance for air taxi passengers. What counts is the premium for private accident insurance, which also applies on an air taxi.
Example
Typical range
Adult with an office job, basic sum EUR 100,000, progression 350 percent
about EUR 60 to 180 a year
Adult in a manual trade, same cover
about EUR 120 to 260 a year
Simple policy, progression 225 percent, no accident pension
about EUR 44 to 215 a year
Guide values as of October 2026 from publicly quoted tariff examples.
Euro values of special drawing rights are calculated at about EUR 1.20.
The disability payment in the worked example is a guide value from practice.
Your premium depends on your job, the basic sum and extras; we obtain the exact offer.
Worked example
Hard landing in an air taxi
A passenger breaks a wrist in a hard landing and keeps a slight restriction of movement. She has accident insurance with a basic sum of EUR 100,000. This is how the loss is shared.
Medical costs and lost earnings
damages from the operator
Pain and suffering
claim against the operator
Disability assumed at 10 percent
accident insurance pays EUR 10,000
Passenger's own share
none if both pay
The operator pays the damages, and the accident insurance pays the agreed sum on top, regardless of fault.
Who is liable for your injury in an air taxi
Legally, an air taxi is an aircraft, even if it takes off vertically and flies on electric power. Whoever carries you under a contract is the air carrier and is liable to passengers under the Montreal Convention and EU rules; the German Aviation Act (Luftverkehrsgesetz) applies in addition under section 44 where those rules are silent.
Under section 45 of the Aviation Act the carrier is liable if a passenger is killed or injured in an accident on board or while boarding or leaving the aircraft. Where the carrier is not at fault, liability is capped at 128,821 units of account (special drawing rights) per passenger; with fault, this cap does not apply.
The compulsory insurance of the air taxi operator
Regulation (EC) 785/2004 requires air carriers and operators to insure their liability to passengers: at least 250,000 special drawing rights per passenger. At a rate of about EUR 1.20 this is roughly EUR 300,000; the value moves with the exchange rate.
For you this means your claim for damages after an air taxi accident is backed by an insured operator. Medical costs, lost earnings and compensation for pain and suffering (Schmerzensgeld) are claimed from the operator, not from your own insurer.
Your private accident insurance on an air taxi
The German model conditions for accident insurance (AUB 2020) exclude in clause 5.1.4 accidents as the pilot of an aircraft that requires a licence, as a crew member and in jobs that can only be done with an aircraft. Passengers are not on this list, including passengers in an air taxi without a pilot.
Accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) pays fixed amounts depending on the degree of permanent disability, regardless of who was at fault. It adds to the damages paid by the operator. Policies may deviate from the model conditions, so check the exclusions in your own contract.
After an air taxi accident
Who pays
Medical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering
the operator through its compulsory insurance
Permanent disability
additionally your private accident insurance
Damaged luggage
the operator under the rules for baggage
Treatment in Germany
first your health insurance
Delay or cancellation
claims against the operator, not an insurance matter
When you need nothing extra for an air taxi
You do not need a separate air taxi policy as a passenger. Damages are covered by the operator's compulsory insurance, and existing accident insurance also applies on an air taxi.
Private accident insurance makes most sense for people without statutory accident cover in their free time. It protects you in every accident in daily life; the air taxi is just a rare special case.
How far air taxis have come in Germany
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published its Special Condition SC-VTOL in 2019 for vertical take-off aircraft with up to nine seats. Commercial passenger transport falls under the category Enhanced, with the highest safety requirements.
The strategy of the German transport ministry from December 2024 plans first test routes for air taxis and drones by 2026, limited areas by 2028, regional traffic by 2030 and nationwide operation by 2032.
How a broker can help with air taxi risks
Norman Nammert arranges private accident insurance as an insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler). A broker can check whether your policy treats aviation differently from the model conditions and compare offers with a suitable basic sum and progression. The commission is paid by the insurer, so it costs you nothing.
Step by step
Before the flight, check whether you have private accident insurance.
Look at the exclusions to see how your policy deals with aviation.
After an accident, have injuries documented by a doctor straight away.
Report the accident to the operator in writing and register your claims.
Inform your accident insurer in time; permanent disability must be confirmed by a doctor.
Checklist
Private accident insurance in place
No special aviation exclusions in the policy
Basic sum and progression fit your income
Operator name and flight details noted
Medical reports and photos kept after an accident
Common mistakes
Thinking you need a separate policy for an air taxi
Not registering claims against the operator in writing
Missing the deadline for the medical confirmation of disability
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
How am I insured if the air taxi flies without a pilot?
In the same way: the operator is liable and must insure its liability to passengers.
The German model conditions for accident insurance do not exclude passengers even without a pilot
on board.
Does the air taxi operator have to be insured?
Yes.
Under Regulation (EC) 785/2004 it needs liability insurance for passengers of at least 250,000
special drawing rights per passenger.
Does my accident insurance pay on an air taxi?
Under the model conditions AUB 2020 it does, because only licensed pilots,
crew and certain jobs are excluded.
Check whether your policy deviates.
Does my personal liability insurance help me as a passenger?
Only if you cause damage yourself, for example to the seat or to other passengers.
It does not cover your own injury.
Can I already fly in an air taxi in Germany?
The transport ministry's strategy plans first test routes by 2026 and nationwide operation by 2032.
The general rules for passengers already apply to your insurance cover today.
