Airbus teams up with Avincis for cutting-edge Urban Air Mobility projects
In a significant move towards sustainable, emission-free, and innovative aerial transport solutions, Airbus and Avincis have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and operation of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft across Europe.
This partnership leverages Avincis’s extensive experience as a European helicopter operator and Airbus’s aerospace expertise. The collaboration aims to explore practical operational opportunities for eVTOL aircraft, such as the CityAirbus NextGen, to provide efficient urban air mobility services.
The CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype was presented to the public in March 2024, and the partnership will help in testing and deploying these electric aircraft in real-world urban transport scenarios across European cities. This cooperation addresses regulatory, operational, and infrastructure challenges needed to integrate Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into existing transportation systems.
John Boag, CEO of Avincis, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that eVTOLs will play an important role in their long-term fleet strategy. Balkiz Sarihan, Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus, shared similar sentiments, expressing her excitement about partnering with Avincis to explore the mission potential of CityAirbus NextGen.
Avincis, with bases in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and beyond, operates approximately 60 Airbus aircraft and more than 220 aircraft in total. The company also operates in Mozambique and Chile. With over 2,400 professionals employed, Avincis is one of the world's leading Aerial Emergency Services operators.
Avincis and Airbus have a longstanding and successful cooperation, and this agreement expands their relationship further. The collaboration aims to explore how eVTOLs can contribute to missions that save lives and protect communities.
The CityAirbus NextGen prototype is currently undergoing testing at Airbus' AAM test centre in Donauwörth, Germany. This partnership is another step towards the creation of an AAM ecosystem, marking a significant milestone in the development of sustainable urban air mobility solutions.
[1] Source: Airbus Press Release, dated 1st April 2024. [3] Source: Avincis Press Release, dated 1st April 2024.
The collaboration between Airbus and Avincis aims to investigation the potential of CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft in sports events, as their efficient urban air mobility services could revolutionize the transportation of sports teams and equipment.
John Boag, CEO of Avincis, anticipates that eVTOLs will not only be a crucial part of their fleet strategy in urban environments, but also in sports-related missions due to their speed and emission-free capabilities.
