As announced in June 2021, Avolon, the world’s second-largest aircraft lessor, pre-ordered 500 VX4s from Vertical to place with its global airline customers. This endorsement of the VX4 by AirAsia represents the aircraft’s first expansion into Southeast Asia.
With today’s announcement, Avolon has now placed 450 of its VX4 pre-orders to AirAsia, Japan’s JAL and Brazil’s Gol. Together, these airlines form a growing global community of transport operators that have ordered the VX4.
Vertical has directly agreed pre-orders or pre-order options with the likes of American Airlines, Avolon, Virgin Atlantic, Iberojet, Bristow Group and Marubeni resulting in a market-leading pre-order book by value totalling up to 1350 aircraft with a value of $5.4 bn.
The VX4 is a piloted four-passenger, zero operating emissions electric aircraft that is projected to fly at speeds of up to 200mph, over a 100-mile range. The VX4 is expected to be near-silent when in flight, and with a low cost per passenger mile, it will be an affordable option for passengers with a cost at a slight premium to a taxi.
AirAsia’s leasing arrangement through Avolon is the first placement or pre-order since Vertical was listed on the NYSE in December 2021.
AirAsia leases a minimum of 100 of Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 from AvolonAirAsia joins Japan’s JAL and Brazil’s Gol in agreeing leases for the VX4 with Avolon
For more details see Avolon and AirAsia’s release on Avolon’s website here.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO Vertical Aerospace, said "We are delighted that AirAsia is the latest leading airline committing to lease our zero operating emissions VX4 aircraft. AirAsia provides many fantastic opportunities to travel around some of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world, and I am thrilled that we will be bringing zero emissions flight to people all across Asia."
Dรณmhnal Slattery, Avolon CEO, 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 revolutionising the future of air travel. We look forward to working with Tony, and the AirAsia team, on their eVTOL journey. Together we will develop a ride-sharing platform and bring the zero-emissions VX4 aircraft into service, positioning AirAsia as the operator of choice for sustainable air travel in the region.”
Tony Fernandes, CEO, Capital A, commented: “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). We are now much more than just an airline with over 20 products and services on our super app leveraging off each other including flights, hotels, food, retail, delivery, ride-hailing and more. 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. We are also delighted to extend our long-standing relationship with Avolon, which has a proven track record of delivering for its customers and is in sync with our goal to become the leading one-stop travel and delivery platform in Asean.”
More top stories you might be interested in.....
Follow this site here.
