AirAsia to offer low-cost helicopter ride-sharing in Southeast Asia
Malaysia’s low-cost airline group AirAsia announced on February 16 that it plans to offer budget ride-sharing for vertical take-off and landing helicopters on selected market in Southeast Asia as early as 2025.
The group, meanwhile part of a more diversified aviation, e-commerce and lifestyle holding called “Capital A” led by AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes, said it plans to use battery-powered aircraft produced by UK-based electric aviation startup Vertical Aerospae and lease them from Irish aircraft lessor Avolon.
AirAsia has already signed a non-binding deal with Avolon for at least 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric vehicles for which certification in the UK is expected for 2024, the group said.
Fernandes said regulators in Malaysia and Singapore have started looking into procedures to certify and approve operations of the service, with Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines following at a later point of time.
Bookings through Air Asia’s mobile app
He added the air ride-sharing services 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. The domestic tourism industry is likely to generate demand in the beginning, for example on Malaysian routes from Kuala Lumpur to the Genting Highlands resort about 55 kilometers north of the city.
“We don’t want this to be an exclusive product. We want everyone to be able to use the service,” Fernandes said, reminiscent of AirAsia’s tagline “Now Everyone Can Fly.”
“Urban air mobility platform for Southeast Asia”
Avolon said its investment and innovation unit Avolon-e will work with AirAsia to commercialise the ride-sharing aircraft operations and “develop an industry-leading urban air mobility platform in Southeast Asia.”
The leasing company said it ordered a total of 500 VX4 aircraft from Vertical Aerospace last year and has since placed 90 per cent with AirAsia and Japan Airlines, as well as Brazil’s Gol airline and transport service provider Grupo Comporte.
Zero emissions and near-silent flights
The four-passenger, one-pilot, zero-emissions VX4 has a one-megawatt electric powertrain that powers eight propellers. The 13-meter aircraft with a 15-meter wingspan has a range of more than 160 kilometers and can reach a speed of 320 km/h in a near-silent flight with a payload of up to 450 kilogrammes.
First test flights to determine ideal flight altitudes and other factors would start in April this year, Avolon CEO Domhnal Slattery, who is also chairman of Vertical Aerospace, said.
[caption id="attachment_38234" align="alignleft" width="300"] A designer's view of Vertical Aerospace VX4 flying over Kuala Lumpur [/caption] Malaysia’s low-cost airline group AirAsia announced on February 16 that it plans to offer budget ride-sharing for vertical take-off and landing helicopters on selected market in Southeast Asia as early as 2025. The group, meanwhile part of a more diversified aviation, e-commerce and lifestyle holding called “Capital A” led by AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes, said it plans to use battery-powered aircraft produced by UK-based electric aviation startup Vertical Aerospae and lease them from Irish aircraft lessor Avolon. AirAsia has already signed a non-binding deal...
Malaysia’s low-cost airline group AirAsia announced on February 16 that it plans to offer budget ride-sharing for vertical take-off and landing helicopters on selected market in Southeast Asia as early as 2025.
The group, meanwhile part of a more diversified aviation, e-commerce and lifestyle holding called “Capital A” led by AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes, said it plans to use battery-powered aircraft produced by UK-based electric aviation startup Vertical Aerospae and lease them from Irish aircraft lessor Avolon.
AirAsia has already signed a non-binding deal with Avolon for at least 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric vehicles for which certification in the UK is expected for 2024, the group said.
Fernandes said regulators in Malaysia and Singapore have started looking into procedures to certify and approve operations of the service, with Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines following at a later point of time.
Bookings through Air Asia’s mobile app
He added the air ride-sharing services 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. The domestic tourism industry is likely to generate demand in the beginning, for example on Malaysian routes from Kuala Lumpur to the Genting Highlands resort about 55 kilometers north of the city.
“We don’t want this to be an exclusive product. We want everyone to be able to use the service,” Fernandes said, reminiscent of AirAsia’s tagline “Now Everyone Can Fly.”
“Urban air mobility platform for Southeast Asia”
Avolon said its investment and innovation unit Avolon-e will work with AirAsia to commercialise the ride-sharing aircraft operations and “develop an industry-leading urban air mobility platform in Southeast Asia.”
The leasing company said it ordered a total of 500 VX4 aircraft from Vertical Aerospace last year and has since placed 90 per cent with AirAsia and Japan Airlines, as well as Brazil’s Gol airline and transport service provider Grupo Comporte.
Zero emissions and near-silent flights
The four-passenger, one-pilot, zero-emissions VX4 has a one-megawatt electric powertrain that powers eight propellers. The 13-meter aircraft with a 15-meter wingspan has a range of more than 160 kilometers and can reach a speed of 320 km/h in a near-silent flight with a payload of up to 450 kilogrammes.
First test flights to determine ideal flight altitudes and other factors would start in April this year, Avolon CEO Domhnal Slattery, who is also chairman of Vertical Aerospace, said.
