Avolon, through its investment and innovation affiliate Avolon-e, has formed a strategic partnership with Japan Airlines (JAL) to identify and target local partners and customers, infrastructure requirements, certification, and a range of commercial models for the first eVTOL ride sharing businesses in Japan. Through this partnership, JAL will have a right to purchase or lease up to 50 Vertical VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon, with the option to purchase or lease up to 50 additional units.

Dómhnal Slattery, Avolon CEO, commented: “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.”