Air Taxi Maker Plans Service for UAE; 125 Pre-Orders

A Spanish electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle maker has partnered with a private aviation operator to develop an electric taxi service in the United Arab Emirates.

As part of the deal, Crisalion Mobility received pre-orders for 10 of its Integrity eVTOLs from Air Chateau, which plans to use the flying vehicles as part of its advanced air mobility (AAM) efforts.

The Air Chateau air taxi order, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, brings Crisalion’s pre-orders to 125, according to Crisalion.

“Air Chateau has demonstrated a strong commitment to advanced air mobility, innovation and technology as one of UAE’s leading aviation companies,” said Crisalion Mobility general manager Manuel Heredia. “This partnership opens not only the door to a strategic region for Crisalion but will also form part of Air Chateau’s approach to providing sustainable air travel services to its customers.”

The agreement is Crisalion’s first commercial partnership in the private aviation market and the Middle East.

Crisalion and Air Chateau plan to work on a growth plan for electric air taxi services in major cities, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Two major air taxi developers, Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, are already active in developing air taxi services in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Related:Flying Vehicle Maker Partners for Sweden Vertiports; Ikea Inspired

Crisalion recently teamed with Swedish vertiport developer Kookiejar to work together on AAM projects, including the development of vertiports for electric aerial vehicles (EAV).

In that agreement, Cirisalion and Kookiejar aim to identify synergies between the Kookiejar vertiports and Crisalion Mobility operations at those facilities.

The companies plan to focus on freight transport, medical emergencies and urban, regional and tourism missions.

Crisalion and Kookiejar plan to start training programs for the teams at the companies and research future technologies to enhance the efficiency and safety of air mobility operations.

The Kookiejar vertiport development approach was inspired by Ikea in Sweden. Kookiejar vertiports use a scalable, modular construction method.

Crisalion Mobility last year agreed to work on AAM projects in Latin America and Europe with Bluenest by Globalvia. Those companies signed an agreement to collaborate and conduct demo tests and the integration of EAV vertiports.

The companies plan to optimize the processes to make EAVs and vertiports compatible, including smart mobility in and around the vertiports.

Numerous vertiports are being developed around the world for the takeoff, landing and maintenance of eVTOL vehicles.

Related:Air Taxi Company Teams With Southwest Airlines

The companies also plan to exchange technical information and develop locations and routes for the vertiports.

The Crisalion EAV is being designed to carry five passengers and a pilot, a typical configuration for the larger of the air taxis being developed.

The Latin America and America agreement is expected to form part of regional commercial efforts in Europe and Latin America to test and validate new technologies to enhance passenger experience and the operation of associated infrastructure, according to the companies.

Volatus Infrastructure and Aeroauto Vertiport Development are establishing vertiport facilities to manage the takeoff, landing, charging and maintenance of EAVs including air taxis. The companies are also readying retail showrooms for flying vehicle sales in Florida and Texas to start.