Vertical Aerospace is working to launch its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in 2028.
The future of commuting could soon take off.
“This will transform urban transportation in major cities around the world,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, as the company unveils its next-generation electric air taxi in the United States, designed to move passengers through congested cities in minutes instead of hours.
British company Vertical Aerospace is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft aimed at reducing traffic congestion in megacities like New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo, where ground transportation is increasingly stretched to its limits.
Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 aircraft is expected to launch in mid-2028. (Vertical Aerospace)
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Flying up to 150 mph with a range of approximately 100 miles, the aircraft is designed to accommodate four passengers in a premium configuration, with the flexibility to accommodate up to six standard helicopter-style seats. It can carry multiple roller bags and personal items, making it ideal for airport transfers and short regional trips.
The plane’s propulsion system is designed to be significantly quieter than that of traditional helicopters, an important factor for regulators and city officials concerned about noise pollution in dense urban environments.
“We designed this aircraft to meet the highest safety standards in the world, on par with Airbus or Boeing,Simpson got it.
The interior of Vertical Aerospace’s planes expected to be certified by 2028. (FOX Business Network)
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Vertical Aerospace says its air taxi is intended for a wide range of uses, including airport transfers, cross-city urban travel, air tours, emergency medical flights, cargo delivery and defense operations.
“There is government support here in the United States, Europe and Asia,” Simpson said. “The product is there and ready to use.”
The company aims for certification of his planes by 2028, which would allow it to begin commercial operations in the United States and around the world soon after. Vertical Aerospace says it is working closely with U.S. aviation regulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation, in the certification process.
Production and delivery are expected to begin following regulatory approval. The company plans to deliver at least 175 aircraft by 2030, with a long-term goal of increasing production to 900 aircraft per year by 2035.
Vertical Aerospace aims to have its aircraft certified by 2028. (FOX Business Network)
ARCHER AVIATION PARTNERS WITH UNITED AIRLINES TO MAKE AIR TAXIS A REALITY
In New York, Vertical Aerospace shared proposed route plans with partners including Bristow, a leading helicopter operator, and Skyports, which owns the Downtown Skyport and specializes in air taxi infrastructure. Intended use cases include airport transfers, event travel, weekend and leisure travel, urban travel, air tours and emergency services.
Vertical Aerospace President Dómhnal Slattery compared the rise of electric aviation to previous advances that have reshaped the way people move around the world.
“If you think about the flight, there were three big moments,” Slattery said. “A hundred years ago, the Wright brothers were here in America. In the 1950s, jet engines changed the way people got around. And now we have electric aviation.”
Vertical Aerospace’s electric air taxi could transform commuting in major US cities. (FOX Business Network)
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He added that in today’s largest cities, this change may be inevitable.
“People have gotten to a point in the world’s megacities, whether it’s New York or Los Angeles or Tokyo, where they just can’t get around on the ground anymore,” Slattery said. “So the only way is up, to the highways of heaven.”
Company progress comes as American government is rolling out a national strategy to accelerate the adoption of electric air taxis. Officials say the initiative could transform commuting, speed emergency response times, expand access to health care and change the way goods move in major metropolitan areas.
As regulators, manufacturers and infrastructure providers move closer to commercializing the technology, air taxis could soon become a visible part of everyday transportation, reducing travel times from hours to minutes in some of the nation’s most congested cities.
