In Rome, Airbus and ITA Airways signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the development of urban air mobility (UAM) in Italy. The agreement focuses on the operations of the CityAirbus NextGen, an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, currently under development.
Both companies will study the feasibility of tailor-made services of this type in the country. To this end, they will identify pilot cases to demonstrate the added value that this type of sustainable mobility can offer to communities.
Both the European manufacturer and the Italian flag carrier will seek to bring together different stakeholders in the development of the sector. The aim, according to Airbus, is to bring on board additional partners for the commercial launch of CityAirbus NextGen operations, the prototype of which was unveiled in 2021.
“The partnership between ITA Airways and Airbus started with the evolution toward more modern, more comfortable and environmentally-friendly commercial aircraft, equipped with cutting-edge technologies”, said Alfredo Altavilla, Chairman of ITA Airways. “With this agreement, our partnership expands to the segment of urban air mobility for a wider, customer-centric, innovative and sustainable offer”, he added.
The CityAirbus NextGen is an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with a fixed wing, V-shaped tail and eight propellers powered electrically through a distributed propulsion system. It is designed to be operated by a single pilot and carry up to four passengers.
The manufacturer claims a range of up to 80 kilometres and a cruising speed of 120 kilometres per hour. Its characteristics make it an attractive option for short trips and different types of operation, in urban and suburban environments.
For Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, the agreement is “a testament to the strong relationship” between the two companies. He said the initiative will allow them to “advance new air mobility solutions for zero-emission vertical flight in support of our cities and communities later this decade”. The company has been exploring propulsion alternatives and developing new aerial vehicles since 2014.
The Italian company, created in 2021 after Alitalia ceased operations, has already acquired 28 aircraft directly from Airbus: seven A220s, eleven A320neo and ten A330neo. It will soon add the A350 to its fleet, which aims to be efficient in terms of fuel consumption and environmental impact.
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