Vertical Aerospace to Launch UK’s First Electric Air Taxi Network with Skyports and Bristow
Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) has announced a landmark partnership with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow Group (NYSE: VTOL) to launch the United Kingdom’s first electric air taxi network, targeting high-value mobility corridors connecting Canary Wharf with key transport hubs. Initial proposed routes include Canary Wharf to Heathrow, Gatwick, Cambridge, and Oxford, offering a transformative alternative to congested ground travel.
This ambitious initiative combines Vertical Aerospace’s industry-leading eVTOL aircraft, Skyports’ vertiport network, and Bristow’s global operational expertise and UK Air Operator Certificates (AOCs), creating a fully integrated ecosystem capable of delivering scalable, safe, and efficient electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) services.
Transforming Urban and Regional Mobility in the UK
The first operational phase, planned for Q1 2029, will focus on the UK’s most in-demand transport corridors. By providing rapid, zero-emission flights, the network is expected to significantly reduce travel times compared to conventional ground transportation. For instance, a journey from Canary Wharf to Heathrow, typically 60–90 minutes by car or taxi, would take just 12 minutes by air.
This initiative is part of a broader vision to introduce advanced air mobility (AAM) into the UK’s urban transport landscape, reducing congestion, cutting carbon emissions, and offering premium, time-saving solutions for business travelers and commuters alike.
Electric flight will transform how cities move, and London is one of the best places in the world to prove it,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “With Skyports and Bristow, we have the aircraft, infrastructure, and operational strength to lead this market. These plans show the commercial potential of services we aim to see operating following regulatory approval in 2028, and we look forward to bringing them to life with our partners.
The Partnership: Aircraft, Infrastructure, and Operations
The collaboration brings together three critical elements necessary for a viable eVTOL network:
- Vertical Aerospace: Developer of the Valo aircraft, designed to carry passengers efficiently and safely over medium-range distances with zero operating emissions.
- Skyports Infrastructure: Operator of London Heliport, Bicester Vertiport, and future UK vertiport networks, providing the infrastructure needed for takeoff, landing, and ground operations.
- Bristow Group: A globally recognized aviation operator with decades of experience, responsible for flight operations, pilot training, and regulatory compliance under UK AOCs.
By integrating aircraft, vertiport facilities, and operational expertise, the partnership ensures the entire electric air taxi ecosystem is fully prepared for commercial deployment, meeting the high safety, performance, and operational standards required in urban and regional air mobility.
Bristow’s Role in Advanced Air Mobility
Bristow brings over 75 years of experience in vertical flight operations to the project. The company is tasked with ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient deployment of Vertical Aerospace’s aircraft within the UK’s emerging AAM market.
Bristow’s role in Advanced Air Mobility is to leverage our decades of experience in vertical flight operations to bring real-world operational discipline to promising new aircraft and infrastructure concepts,” said Chris Bradshaw, President & CEO, Bristow. “Working with Vertical and Skyports on early eVTOL services in the UK allows us to apply our proven expertise to an important emerging market. This collaboration is a meaningful step as we progress a portfolio of advanced aircraft and explore how they can be deployed responsibly at scale.
Through this partnership, Bristow will operate the initial UK routes, providing the safety oversight, operational planning, and flight expertise required to ensure the service meets regulatory and commercial standards from day one.
Skyports: Building the UK Vertiport Network
Skyports Infrastructure brings a wealth of experience in vertiport development and operations, combining its existing facilities at London Heliport and Bicester Vertiport with planned expansions across the UK.
We’re excited to build on our long-standing relationship with Vertical,” said Duncan Walker, CEO, Skyports Infrastructure. “Our facilities, combined with our global infrastructure expertise, make us ideally positioned to support early eVTOL services in the UK. With Bristow’s operational strength, we can accelerate plans for electric air taxi routes across the region, with the aim of creating a UK-wide network.
Skyports’ expertise will help ensure smooth integration of vertiports into urban and regional transport systems, providing convenient access points for passengers and enabling rapid, reliable turnarounds for aircraft.
Building on Proven Partnerships
The UK air taxi initiative builds on several existing collaborations and demonstrator projects:
- The OxCam AAM Corridor, which brings together Skyports, Bristow Helicopters, NATS, Vertical Aerospace, and Oxfordshire County Council to accelerate the transition of Advanced Air Mobility from trials to commercially viable operations. Planned test flights with Vertical’s prototype aircraft will validate route concepts, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Earlier in the year, Bristow and Vertical announced a Ready-to-Fly model, providing turnkey access to aircraft, pilots, maintenance, and insurance. Bristow also pre-ordered up to 50 Valo aircraft, with options to purchase an additional 50, signaling strong confidence in the commercial potential of the platform.
These collaborations demonstrate the UK’s commitment to safe, regulated, and scalable advanced air mobility, providing a strong foundation for the country’s first electric air taxi network.
The Valo Aircraft: Performance and Safety
Central to this initiative is Vertical Aerospace’s Valo eVTOL, designed to meet the highest standards of performance, safety, and sustainability:
- Range: Up to 100 miles per flight, suitable for intercity and regional travel.
- Speed: Capable of flying at up to 150 mph, dramatically reducing travel times compared to ground transport.
- Emissions: Zero operating emissions, supporting the UK’s green transport and carbon reduction goals.
- Safety Standards: Targeting certification with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), aiming to meet the same rigorous safety benchmarks as modern commercial airliners.
Vertical plans to produce 175 aircraft by 2030, ramping production to 225+ annually by Q4 2030, ensuring sufficient fleet capacity to meet initial network demand and future expansion.
A Milestone for UK Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
The launch of the UK’s first electric air taxi network marks a major milestone in advanced air mobility. By combining state-of-the-art aircraft, vertiport infrastructure, and experienced operators, Vertical Aerospace, Skyports, and Bristow are demonstrating that electric urban and regional air mobility is commercially viable.
Passengers will benefit from faster, cleaner, and more reliable transport, while operators and regulators gain valuable experience in safe, scalable eVTOL operations. The network also underscores the UK’s role as a global leader in AAM, providing a model for other countries seeking to introduce electric air taxis in urban and regional environments.
Vertical Aerospace’s partnership with Skyports and Bristow represents a paradigm shift in UK transport, combining cutting-edge electric aircraft, strategically located vertiports, and decades of operational expertise.
With the Valo aircraft, the UK’s first electric air taxi network promises to:
- Cut journey times on high-value corridors dramatically
- Provide zero-emission alternatives to traditional travel
- Ensure safety standards comparable to modern commercial aviation
- Support the development of a UK-wide AAM network
This ambitious initiative positions the UK at the forefront of advanced air mobility, demonstrating how collaboration between aircraft manufacturers, infrastructure developers, and experienced operators can bring next-generation urban and regional air travel to reality.
As the project progresses toward regulatory approval in 2028 and operations commence in Q1 2029, the Vertical Aerospace-Skyports-Bristow partnership is set to redefine how people move through and between cities in the UK, marking the beginning of a new era in electric air taxi services.
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