Vertical Aerospace has announced that Sigma Air Mobility, a division of the Luxa take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft
The memorandum of understanding (MoU), revealed at the Farnborough International Airshow, outlines the planned acquisition and deployment of Valo aircraft. However, specific details regarding the quantity of aircraft or the potential financial worth of the deal were not released.
Under this agreement, Vertical and Sigma will also collaborate on various aspects, including aircraft operations, testing procedures, commercial preparedness, and defining customer needs, all in anticipation of launching electric air mobility services.
Sigma Air Mobility was founded by the Luxausiness a
The Luxa and its ExecuJet subsidiary manages a network of over 100 fixed-base operator (FBO) locations
Michael Cervenka, Vertical Aerospace’s chief commercial and strategy officer, stated that seasoned operators would be crucial for transitioning eVTOL aircraft from the certification phase into routine commercial operation.
“Sigma Air Mobility and Luxahelp ensure Valo integrates seamlessly into aengers from day one,” he commented.
This agreement is not the Luxaircraft developer
The Luxae involved companies concentrated on aircraft operations and the necessary ground infrastructure to support the forthcoming Lilium Jet. That earlier agreement aimed to utilize Luxa
Following this, Sigma revealed a collaboration with Supernal, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, also at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow. This particular agreement focused on exploring potential markets across South and Southeast Asia, as well as Southern Europe, with Sigma slated to operate Supernal eVTOL aircraft and assist in vertiport infrastructure development.
Furthermore, Sigma entered into an agreement with VoltAero to investigate potential uses for the Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft, encompassing a possible route demonstration and air ambulance services. Separately, Sigma has collaborated with Nordic eVTOL Networks to develop operational infrastructure within Scandinavia.
Nevertheless, public announcements concerning those prior partnerships did not reveal a specific aircraft purchase commitment from Sigma or Luxaundisclosed number of Valo aircraft, represents a concrete move towards acquiring an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) fleet
Christophe Lapierre, CEO of Sigma Air Mobility, commented that this agreement would extend the relationship “beyond the aircraft,” uniting the vehicle with the essential operational ecosystem required for its support.
Sigma now becomes part of Valo’s extensive 1,500-aircraft order pipeline.
Vertical presently indicates roughly 1,500 conditional pre-orders for the Valo aircraft, potentially valued at approximately $6 billion. The company’s most recent corporate documents list American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL, and Japan Airlines as key customers.
American Airlines previously placed a conditional pre-order for as many as 250 aircraft, along with options for an additional 100. Subsequently, the airline made pre-delivery payments to secure the initial 50 delivery slots.
Aircraft leasing firm Avolon committed to acquiring up to 500 aircraft, later distributing this capacity among various airlines and mobility collaborators. These allocations encompassed 250 aircraft for GOL and Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 for Japan Airlines, a minimum of 100 for AirAsia, and up to 100 for Gözen Holding. It is important to note that these airline commitments are part of Avolon’s broader order, not supplementary to it.
Bristow has independently pre-ordered as many as 50 aircraft, with options for an additional 50. This is part of a collaborative effort to create a comprehensive, turnkey operating model that includes aircraft, pilots, maintenance, and insurance.
Vertical has also recently secured agreements with an Indian business a specific number of aircraft involved in either announcement was not disclosed
The company is currently progressing towards its Critical Design Review, a stage that will define the certifiable design baseline for Valo before production and testing of certification-compliant aircraft commence. The recent Sigma agreement aims to integrate operational requirements into this process, ensuring they are addressed before the aircraft begins commercial service.
