International aircraft leasing company Avolon has announced an accord with the AirAsia Aviation Group involving 100 VX4 eVTOL aircraft made by UK company Vertical Aerospace.
In a statement Wednesday, Avolon said the memorandum of understanding covered the leasing of at least 100 Vertical VX4 eVTOL craft by AirAsia, which is occurring under its fleet and operational modernization. The craft may be flown on appropriate existing routes, but are especially intended to enable entirely new short- and medium-range urban air mobility (UAM) services by AirAsia.
Those vehicles will come from a $2 billion order Avolon made last June for 500 VX4s, at least half of which are contracted for lease to Gol and Grupo Comporte in Brazil. Japan Airlines has similarly committed to up to 100 of the vehicles, which along with the AirAsia accord covers 90% of Avolon’s future VX4 fleet.
Vertical says the piloted, four-passenger VX4 eVTOL craft will operate at speeds of up to 200…
