Flag carrying Japan Airlines (JAL) is to team up with international air leasing company Avolon to establish a zero-emissions ride-sharing electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft enterprise in Japan with an intended date of 2025 for commencement of operations.
Avolon’s input will come through its dedicated eVTOL affiliate, Avolon-e, which will help JAL to identify potential local partners, required infrastructure, certification and to produce various business models for a ride-sharing enterprise. JAL will have the right to acquire, through lease or outright purchase, 50 VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft with an option to acquire a further 50 of the aircraft.
Dómhnal Slattery, Avolon CEO, commented: “We continue to identify partners who share the same vision to revolutionize air travel through zero-emissions eVTOL aircraft and shape the future of travel. This latest long-term partnership with JAL aligns us with one of Japan’s leading airlines on its journey to sustainability and to decarbonizing air transport.”
Tomohiro Nishihata, Managing Executive Officer of Japan Airlines, commented: “Today’s announcement represents an important step towards the social implementation of Air Taxi at Osaka Kansai EXPO in 2025. Our partnership with Avolon, lays out the pathway towards achieving Air Mobility revolution in Japan. The introduction of VA-X4 will also contribute to reduce our environmental impact and we fundamentally believe that sustainability will be the engine for future growth across our business and region.”
Stephen Fitzpatrick, Vertical CEO commented: “The VA-X4 will transform how we travel. We are delighted to be working with Avolon and our newest partner Japan Airlines as we bring zero-emissions aircraft to the Japanese market. JAL’s experience will strengthen the certification roadmap in Japan demonstrating our global view as we make eVTOLs a reality.”
