International aircraft lessor Avolon and Japan Airlines have partnered to commercialize eVTOL aircraft in Japan. Through the company's affiliate Avolon-e, the partnership will identify customers, infrastructure requirements, certification and business models.
On Wednesday (October 20, 2021), Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, announced a new commercial partnership with Japan Airlines to commercialize zero-emissions eVTOL aircraft in Japan. Through Avolon’s investment and innovation affiliate, Avolon-e, the strategic partnership with JAL with target and identify local partners and customers, infrastructure requirements, certification, and a range of commercial models to introduce one of the world’s firsts eVTOL ride sharing businesses in Japan. Through the partnership, JAL will have the right to purchase or lease up to 50 Vertical VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon, with an option for 50 more.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Avolon’s CEO, Dómhnal Slattery, said,
“We continue to identify partners who share the same vision to revolutionise air travel through zero-emissions eVTOL aircraft and shape the future of travel. This latest long-term partnership with JAL aligns us with one of Japan’s leading airlines on their journey to sustainability and to decarbonizing air transport. The VA-X4 will be certified to CAA and EASA’s stringent safety regulations. We believe JAL’s multi-decade experience will prove invaluable as Vertical seeks type certificate validation with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, demonstrating that the VA-X4 will be a global eVTOL, unconstrained by borders.”
Also commenting on the new eVTOL partnership, Japan Airlines’ Managing Executive Officer, Tomohiro Nishihata, said,
“Today’s announcement represents an important step towards the social implementation of Air Taxi at Osaka Kansai EXPO in 2025. Our partnership with Avolon, lays out the pathway towards achieving Air Mobility revolution in Japan. The introduction of VA-X4 will also contribute to reduce our environmental impact and we fundamentally believe that sustainability will be the engine for future growth across our business and region. We look forward to collaborating closely with Avolon and Vertical on the roadmap to certification for the VA-X4 with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.”
Vertical’s CEO, Stephen Fitzpatrick added,
“The VA-X4 will transform how we travel. We are delighted to be working with Avolon and our newest partner Japan Airlines as we bring zero-emissions aircraft to the Japanese market. JAL’s experience will strengthen the certification roadmap in Japan demonstrating our global view as we make eVTOLs a reality.”
Headquartered in Dublin, Avolon is a major international provider of aircraft leasing and lease management services. The company also has offices in the U.S., Dubai, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Avolon is 70 percent owned by an indirect subsidiary of Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd., a public company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and 30 percent owned by ORIX Aviation Systems, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation. Avolon is the world’s third-largest aircraft leasing business with a fleet of 837 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of June 30, 2021.
Source: Avolon