Lilium and UrbanLink agree deal for 20 aircraft
New US operator UrbanLink will operate Lilium Jets in South Florida following a deal which will see the airline purchase 20 aircraft from Lilium.
The German OEM will also receive scheduled pre-delivery payments as part of the deal. UrbanLink sees eVTOL aircraft as a key driver of sustainable regional connectivity across South Florida. The Lilium Jet should link major cities such as Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.
UrbanLink is led by Ed Wegel, an airline executive with 40 years of experience in financing, operations and distribution. Wegel has raised more than $1bn for aviation ventures and led FAA certifications for two US Part 135 airlines and several US Part 121 carriers. Most recently, Wegel served as CEO & Founder of GlobalX.
“While many airlines have discussed the potential of operating eVTOL aircraft, none have made a definitive commitment,” he said. “UrbanLink will be the first airline in the U.S. to integrate eVTOL aircraft into its fleet. We are dedicated to revolutionising the way people move to and from as well as within urban cores. After thorough evaluation of various manufacturers, we found the Lilium Jet to be the optimal choice for our needs, thanks to its superior cabin design, range, capacity, and cost-effectiveness.”
UrbanLink’s entry into the region includes plans to use a network of Florida vertiports that Lilium and its partners have worked on over the past five years.
Sebastien Borel, Lilium’s chief commercial officer, said: “This is a huge milestone, not only for Lilium, but for the commercialisation of eVTOLs in the US. We believe that this purchase of eVTOL aircraft is the first by a commercial operator that isn’t invested in the manufacturer that it is purchasing from. This is a sign that the market for eVTOL aircraft has matured and there is growing demand for aircraft that can provide connections between, rather than just within, cities. I know that Ed has the vision and operational expertise to make regional air mobility a success.”
