AirAsia Aviation Group on Wednesday that it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to lease a minimum of 100 VX4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Avolon, the world’s second-largest aircraft leasing company with a fleet of more than 800 aircraft as of December 2021.
The four-passenger, one-pilot VX4 is expected to have a range of more than 100 miles (160 km) and is one of a growing number of entrants in the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector.
Tony Fernandes, chief executive of AirAsia parent Capital A (CAPI.KL), said flights could start by 2025 and would be bookable through AirAsia’s mobile app and offered at an accessible price point, just as the budget carrier had done for its regular flights.
In addition to their eVTOL partnership, Avolon and AirAsia will also work together to pursue local certification, conduct research on potential market opportunities and infrastructure requirements of unmanned air mobility services across the region, the partners said. AirAsia will also leverage its travel and lifestyle superapp to help support and build an eVTOL ride sharing platform with Avolon.
