Air Taxi Vertiport Company Teams With Saudi Arabia Airport Operator

Vertiport operator UrbanV and airport operator Cluster2 have signed a partnership agreement to develop advanced air mobility (AAM) and urban air mobility (UAM) systems in Saudi Arabia.

The companies plan to build the AAM ecosystem within the Cluster2 network of 22 airports in Saudi Arabia.

UrbanV and Cluster2 also plan to launch pilot programs for the introduction of eVTOL 

(electric vertical takeoff and landing) services for applications such as medical emergencies, cargo logistics and VIP transportation.

“At UrbanV, we aim to improve people’s lives by enabling a fast, efficient, safe and clean alternative to existing transport solutions for people and goods over short distances, by air,” said Carlo Tursi, CEO at UrbanV. “We have the ambition to become a major global operator of vertiport networks and we will be global pioneers in establishing some of the first AAM routes worldwide. We are excited to partner with Cluster2, a major player in the airport management space, and we look forward to exploring together with them the great potential of introducing advanced air mobility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

UrbanV also plans to transfer expertise in AAM and provide training programs and technical knowledge.

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Related:Flying Taxi Infrastructure Targeted for Saudi Arabia, Mideast

The vertiport operator recently teamed with construction and technology infrastructure company Icad Holdings to develop the infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the Mideast to support advanced air mobility.

The companies aim to establish a blueprint for vertiport operations and define a plan to operate vertiports in the Middle East.

UrbanV and Icad plan to jointly explore opportunities for projects in AAM and urban air mobility across the region, according to the deal announcement.

The infrastructure plan would include takeoff and landing procedures, technology integration and operation plans for vertiports and vertiport networks.

UrbanV plans and designs vertiports including route evaluations and interactions with regulators while Icad does construction, technology integration and operational management.

UrbanV is involved in other ventures in addition to the partnership with Icad.

For example, UrbanV teamed with EAV jet maker Lilium and airport management company Aeroports de la Cote d’Azur to bring Lilium electric jet flight to the South of France starting in 2026. Lilium has since stated it is facing insolvency and is working with KPMG on an M&A process.

The plan was to create a network to connect the French Riviera with Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Golfe de Saint-Tropez, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.

Related:Air Taxi Company Plans for French Riviera Operations

The partners plan to establish and operate eVTOL vehicles within a network of vertiports including Nice Côte d’Azur airport, the second-largest airport in France, with Cannes Mandelieu Airport and Golfe de Saint-Tropez Airport.

For flying vehicles such as air taxis, vertiports are needed for takeoff and landings, passenger loading and unloading and charging and maintenance.

Numerous companies in Europe and the Middle East are involved in vertiport development along with companies in the U.S., such as Aeroauto Global in Florida.