In a future of Clip-Air planes, people would be able to “go to the train station to take the plane. Board on a capsule to reach the airport by rail, and then – without leaving (their) seat – fly to another city,” [EPFL technical university in Lausanne] said.

EPFL acknowledged that the project it had been working on since 2009 remained “very futuristic,” but stressed that its scientists were convinced it was technically feasible.