AirAsia has committed to 100VX4 eVTOL aircraft in a deal with Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company.
AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AirAsia), has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to lease a minimum of 100 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon.
These eVTOL aircraft will allow AirAsia to further revolutionize air travel by providing advanced air mobility to a whole new range of passengers.
In addition to the eVTOL aircraft, Avolon, through its investment and innovation affiliate Avolon-e, will partner with AirAsia to commercialize zero-emissions eVTOL aircraft and develop an industry-leading urban air mobility (‘UAM’) platform in Southeast Asia.
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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 successful travel and lifestyle mobile app, the AirAsia Super App, to help support and build an eVTOL ride-sharing platform with Avolon.
In June 2021, Avolon ordered 500 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Vertical Aerospace valued at US $2 billion. Since announcing that order, Avolon placed 250 VX4 aircraft with Gol and Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 aircraft with Japan Airlines in Japan, and a minimum of 100 aircraft with AirAsia.
As a result, Avolon has now placed up to 90 percent of its initial order book, underlining the demand for VX4 aircraft from the world’s leading airlines.
Dómhnal Slattery, CEO of Avolon said; “Tony Fernandes is an aviation pioneer who has built AirAsia into one of the leading airlines in the world and has now also created Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing Super App anchored on travel.
"We are delighted to partner with AirAsia who share our vision of revolutionizing the future of air travel. We look forward to working with Tony, and the AirAsia team, on their eVTOL journey."
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A commented; "I am truly excited about this partnership between Avolon and AirAsia and the potential for zero-emissions ultra-short-haul air travel in Southeast Asia. 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."
And Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO of Vertical added that he was "delighted that AirAsia is the latest leading airline committing to lease our zero-emissions VX4 aircraft."
The VX4 eVTOL aircraft is a four-passenger, one pilot craft and projected to have speeds up to 200mph, a range of over 100 miles, to be near-silent when in flight, with zero operating emissions and low cost per passenger mile.
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