Flying Taxi Company Signs Deal to Sell 100 Electric Jets

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) jet maker Lilium has signed an agreement to sell up to 100 Lilium electric jets to Saudia Group.

The electric aerial vehicles (EAV) are scheduled to be delivered in 2026 and be managed and run by Saudia Private, a subsidiary of aviation conglomerate Saudia Group, parent of Saudi Arabian Airlines Saudia.

The Lilium eVTOL craft is a jet, unlike most EAVs.

The seven-seater vehicles are planned as a regional air mobility service, connecting cities and towns up to 125 miles apart at speeds of up to 185 mph.

The flying vehicle features forward canards (small wings near the front) along with main wings and a distributed propulsion system with fixed landing gear without hydraulics.

Based on the Saudia Group deal, 50 jets would be delivered first with an option to purchase 50 more.

“We are proud of our partnership with a market-leading airline such as Saudia,” said Klaus Roewe, CEO of Lilium. “And we are thrilled to be pioneering progress in the eVTOL industry as the eVTOL manufacturer with the largest reported firm purchase order from an international airline that plans to operate the aircraft. The Middle East is a priority for Lilium and Saudi Arabia will be a very large and exciting market for electric, high-speed regional air mobility. Our partnership will combine Saudia Group’s significant market knowledge with our unique eVTOL technology to transform premium class air travel in the GCC region.”

Related:Flying Taxi Company Sells Electric Jets for London

Lilium recently announced it was selling four jets to Volare Aviation subsidiary eVolare, one of the largest helicopter and private jet operators in the U.K. 

Evolare plans to operate the EAVs to connect London with outer cities and coastal areas of England with the goal of ultimately having 16 vehicles for use in the London area.

The Lilium electric jet is not yet ready for delivery, with the first flight tests with a pilot planned for later this year. 

The Lilium order pipeline now comprises 106 firm orders and reservations, 76 options and 600 aircraft under early agreements, according to the company.

Lilium recently teamed with a vertiport operator and an airport management company to create a vertiport network for EAVs in the French Riviera.

Lilium, UrbanV and Aeroports de la Cote d’Azur plan to bring Lilium electric jet flight to the South of France starting in 2026. 

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

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.

Related:Air Taxi Company Plans for French Riviera Operations

Lilium also has announced an advanced test facility at the Lilium headquarters in Munich where it plans to house a fully integrated EAV to test avionics, flight controls, propulsion and electrical power systems. 

Lilium recently received an order for 20 of its flying vehicles from UrbanLink, which plans to operate the EAVs in South Florida for trips to Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, with service starting in 2026.

The hydrogen-powered air vehicle would connect to and lift road vehicles created by eFMC, a major jeepney manufacturer.

During takeoff, the plane would use its 36 electric ducted fans to hover for up to 25 seconds and 20 seconds during the landing phase, according to the company. Most of the flight time would be in the cruise stage with a relatively short takeoff and landing time.

The company estimates the range of the craft at 150 miles.

Lilium has teamed with the Lufthansa Group to explore opportunities in aviation including ground and flight operations, EAV maintenance and flight training in Europe.

The EAV maker is also teaming with jet and helicopter operator PhilJets to establish advanced air mobility (AAM) services in the Philippines and other Southeast Asia countries.

Lilium and PhilJets plan to jointly develop routes and determine passenger demand for an on-demand eVTOL service in the region, a deal that includes the sale of 10 jets to PhilJets.

LuftCar, the Florida developer of a hydrogen-powered eVTOL, is also expanding into the Philippines via a recent partnership with eFrancisco Motor Corporation (eFMC) to develop and deploy the LuftCar flying car system in the Philippines.