UrbanLink Air Mobility Enters Partnership with Ferrovial Vertiports to Explore Vertiport Development in Key U.S. Markets

June 24, 2024
Ferrovial Vertiports
6679d7d3cf31f2a867d803c4 Photo Courtesy Of Ferrovial Vertiports

UrbanLink Air Mobility LLC (UrbanLink), a pioneering South Florida- based advanced air mobility (AAM) operator, has entered into a partnership with Ferrovial Vertiports, a subsidiary of Ferrovial, a leading global infrastructure company, to explore the development of sites for vertiports in key U.S. markets. The vertiports will serve as launchpads for UrbanLink’s cutting edge Lilium Jets and are essential for urban air mobility operations.

Vertiports provide the necessary hubs for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), providing infrastructure for take-off, landing and recharging. Innovation in vertiport development is critical for the scalable and efficient operation of eVTOL aircraft, which are poised to revolutionize urban and regional transportation. UrbanLink and Ferrovial Vertiports will collaborate on the development of the facilities beginning with Ferrovial’s planned South Florida vertiport network. As preferred partners, UrbanLink and Ferrovial Vertiports will work together on the placement, operational planning, and facility design to ensure safe and secure vertiports optimized for eVTOL operations and a seamless passenger experience.

 

“We are committed to partnering with industry leaders such as Ferrovial Vertiports to build out the AAM framework, including well-designed, safe, and efficient vertiports in our target areas of operation,” said Ed Wegel, Founder and Chairman of UrbanLink. “This partnership is a critical step in accelerating the deployment of our Lilium Jets and enhancing connectivity in the U.S., bringing us one step closer to making AAM a reality. We will continue to lead this charge with our partners.”

 

UrbanLink is poised to be the first airline in the U.S. to integrate eVTOL aircraft into its fleet and will lead the entry into service and management of AAM in South Florida and other markets. In May, UrbanLink announced its partnership with Lilium, developer of the first eVTOL jet, and a commitment to purchase 20 Lilium Jets with scheduled pre-delivery payments. With entry into service expected by Summer 2026, UrbanLink is collaborating with partners Ferrovial Vertiports, Lilium, and other AAM leaders to select service routes for its initial eVTOL flights as well as site selections for vertiports, furthering the AAM ecosystem and contributing to the industry’s overall growth.

 

Currently, UrbanLink is focused on providing eVTOL flight operations in South Florida, Los Angeles, and Southern California, with plans for additional destinations underway. This initiative will pave the way for a new era of urban air mobility, offering faster, greener, and more efficient transportation solutions, transforming how people move to, through, and between cities.

 

We see tremendous opportunity for advanced air mobility. Connecting cities across South Florida will bring safe, efficient transportation options to the region and improve mobility,” stated Kevin Cox, CEO of Ferrovial Vertiports. “Our focus is on ensuring that an agnostic vertiport network is in place for operators like UrbanLink when eVTOLs gain certification.”

 

Ferrovial Vertiports is working with leading eVTOL manufacturers and air service operators to develop agnostic vertiports networks in the United States. These vertiports will be intermodal centers integrated into the community landscape that are adapted to the environment, reduce acoustic impacts, produce no emissions, and meet the highest energy efficiency standards through innovative design. They will safely serve multiple eVTOL aircraft types and diverse business models.