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Air taxis for ultra-short-haul travel in PH

Business

Air taxis for ultra-short-haul travel in PH

By Emmie V. Abadilla

Filipinos can soon avail of air taxis for zero-emissions, ultra-short-haul travel when the AirAsia Aviation Group launches the service in Southeast Asia.

AirAsia partnered with Dublin-based aircraft leasing company Avolon for a hundred VX4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to revolutionize air travel in the region.

Last year, Avolon ordered 500 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Vertical Aerospace (Vertical), valued at $2 billion.

Already, Avolon placed 250 VX4 aircraft with Goland Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 aircraft with Japan Airlines in Japan, and a minimum of 100 aircraft with AirAsia.

The eVTOL aircraft provides advanced air mobility to a whole new range of passengers, transforming how they connect more efficiently in their everyday lives.

In addition to the eVTOL aircraft, Avolon, through its investment and innovation affiliate Avolon-e, will partner with AirAsia to commercialise zero-emissions eVTOL aircraft and develop an industry leading urban air mobility (UAM) platform in Southeast Asia.

Avolon and AirAsia will form a working group to pursue local certification, research

potential market opportunities and infrastructure requirements for UAM.

AirAsia will also leverage its travel and lifestyle mobile app, the AirAsia Super App, to help support and build an eVTOL ride sharing platform with Avolon.

“Innovation has always been in our DNA and using technology to look at more efficient and sustainable ways of doing things is a core focus across Capital A (formerly AirAsia Group)," said CEO Tony Fernandes.

"The digital era is now. In the VX4, we have identified what we believe will be the eVTOL aircraft of choice and we are thrilled to be the launch airline for the aircraft in Southeast Asia," he concluded.

Related Tags

AIR TAXIS IN PH AVOLON AIRASIA PHILIPPINES

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