German company Lilium, developer of the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has sealed a new partnership with GlobeAir, a company that offers business jet charter services across Europe.
Under the agreement, GlobeAir plans to acquire up to twelve eVTOLs produced by Lilium to operate in the French Riviera and northwest Italy. The company will seek to complement its offerings in the region and provide a low-emission alternative. In addition, it highlighted the time savings that the operation of this type of aerial vehicle would bring to customers.
«We are proud to be partnering with Lilium as they are changing how we think about aviation and revolutionizing how people travel», said Bernhard Fragner, CEO of GlobeAir. «Technological breakthroughs, a forward-thinking mindset and a drive to deliver quality time that fits customer expectations have propelled Lilium to the forefront of next-generation air travel», he assured.
«We are thrilled to be partnering with one of the leading European providers in on-demand air mobility», said Sebastien Borel, Lilium’s Vice President Commercial. «The French Riviera and Italy are key markets, and we are confident that our shared commitment to innovation and partnership will result in a premium customer experience», he added.
The Lilium eVTOL
According to the developer, the Lilium Jet will be capable of carrying up to six passengers and be operated by a single pilot. The interior can be adapted to achieve an optimised configuration for different uses and customer requirements.
It will reach a cruising speed of up to 175 miles per hour (280 kilometres per hour), and an altitude of up to 10.300 feet (3.000 metres). It will also have a maximum range of 155 miles (250 kilometres).
The electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft will have a wingspan of 13.9 metres and a length of 8.5 metres. It will be powered by a series of thirty fans located in the wings and powered by batteries.
Lilium is one of a number of emerging companies in the eVTOL aircraft market. All of them are pursuing one main goal: to create zero-emission passenger air vehicles for short-haul urban or regional flights and to increase the accessibility of this type of air mobility for operators and their customers.
See also: Lilium achieves main wing transition on its Phoenix 2 eVTOL aircraft
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