Designer’s Perspective of Vertical Aerospace VX4 Flying Over Kuala Lumpur Malaysian low-cost airline group AirAsia announced on February 16 that it plans to offer low-cost carpooling services for vertical take-off and landing helicopters in selected markets in Southeast Asia as early as 2025. Meanwhile, the group is part of a more diversified aviation group, with e-commerce and lifestyle holding company “Capital A” led by AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes saying it plans to use British electric aviation startup Vertical Aerospae to produce battery-operated aircraft and leased from Irish aircraft lessor Avolon. AirAsia has signed a non-binding agreement…
Malaysian low-cost airline group AirAsia announced on February 16 that it plans to offer low-cost carpooling services for vertical take-off and landing helicopters in selected markets in Southeast Asia as early as 2025.
The group also part Capital A, a more diversified aviation, e-commerce and lifestyle holding company led by AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes, said it plans to use battery-powered aircraft made by British electric aviation startup Vertical Aerospae, and Leasing from Irish Aircraft Lessors. Avalon.
AirAsia has signed a non-binding agreement with Avolon to buy at least 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric vehicles, which are expected to be certified in the UK in 2024, the group said.
Fernandez said regulators in Malaysia and Singapore have begun studying the process of certifying and approving the operation of the service, with Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines to follow at a later date.
Book through AirAsia’s mobile app
He added that air carpooling services can be booked through AirAsia’s mobile app and offered at “accessible price points”, just as budget airlines do for their scheduled flights. Domestic tourism may initially generate demand, such as the Malaysian route from Kuala Lumpur to the resort in Genting Highlands, about 55km north of the city.
“We don’t want this to be an exclusive product. We want everyone to use the service,” Fernandez said, reminiscent of AirAsia’s tagline “Everyone can fly now.”
“Southeast Asian Urban Air Mobility Platform”
Avolon said its investment and innovation arm, Avolon-e, would partner with AirAsia to commercialize ride-sharing and “develop an industry-leading urban air mobility platform in Southeast Asia”.
The leasing company said it ordered 500 VX4s from Vertical Aerospace last year and has since placed 90 percent of the planes with AirAsia and Japan Airlines, as well as Brazil’s Gol Airlines and transport services provider Grupo Comporte.
Zero emissions and near-silent flight
The four-seat, one-pilot, zero-emissions VX4 has a 1-megawatt electric drivetrain that powers eight propellers. The 13-meter-long aircraft, with a wingspan of 15 meters, has a range of more than 160 kilometers, can reach speeds of 320 kilometers per hour in near-silent flight, and has a payload of up to 450 kilograms.
Domhnal Slattery, chief executive of Avolon and chairman of Vertical Aerospace, said the first test flight to determine the ideal flight altitude and other factors will begin in April this year.
