LONDON – International leasing giant Avolon has announced via a partnership with Brazilian carrier GOL and Grupo Comporte, Brazil’s leading transport operator, an order for 250 Vertical Aerospace VA-X4 aircraft.
The three firms will use this order to create one of the world’s first eVTOL ride-sharing businesses.
Avolon is already the launch customer for this eVTOL, having previously ordered 250 units of the type back in June this year, bringing the total commitment to 500.
Commenting on the news was Domhnal Slattery, the CEO of Avolon who called the opportunities of the VA-X4 enormous.
“Today’s announcement represents a significant step in building an eVTOL ride-sharing platform that will reshape the commercial aviation market in Brazil. The opportunities to deploy the VA-X4 are enormous. Gol and Grupo Comporte both bring broad and diverse networks, along with proven track records in scaling multiple businesses, making them the ideal strategic partners for Avolon.”
“Their unparallel market access, coupled with our deep knowledge and relationships in the Brazilian aviation market, leaves us strongly positioned to capitalize on the expected demand for VA-X4 zero-emissions, ultra-short-haul transport.“
“This latest agreement underlines Avolon’s ability to fast-track the commercialization of the VA-X4 globally. In less than three months since becoming a launch partner for the aircraft, we have already placed over half of our initial aircraft order, demonstrating the significant appetite we are seeing from the world’s airlines for the VA-X4.”
Also commenting on the news was Stephen Fitzpatrick, the CEO of Vertical Aerospace who stated that this eVTOL is ideal for the Brazilian market.
“The VA-X4 is ideal for a city like Sao Paolo with a population of over 22 million people. Our eVTOLs will transform how we travel around high population density cities that are clogged with traffic by taking to the skies with zero emissions aircraft. We look forward to working with our existing partners Avolon and our newest partners Gol and Grupo Comporte, on bringing this revolution in air travel to Brazil.”
The VA-X4 will be able to transport four passengers around 100 miles and will be piloted by just one member of the crew with a top speed of 200mph.
