Electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) could be introduced to the Turkish market following an agreement between lessor Avolon and Gözen Holding, one of the country’s leading aviation conglomerates.
The VX4 is an eVTOL developed by Vertical Aerospace capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot, and flying at speeds of up to 320 km/h over a range of more than 160 kilometers without carbon emissions. The company expects to achieve model certification by 2024.
The agreement contemplates the lease or purchase of 50 units of these aircraft from Avolon, with an option to acquire 50 more. Under this framework, the companies committed to collaborate to identify and target local partners, investigate potential market opportunities, as well as infrastructure and certification requirements for zero-emission urban air mobility (UAM).
According to a statement issued by Avolon, «The market potential for UAM in Istanbul, Turkey, and neighboring countries is significant. The capital city offers one of the world’s most unique opportunities for eVTOLs, due to its distant airports, traffic congestion and vast waterway networks. With more than 50 million people using ferries or city boats in Istanbul each year, eVTOLs offer a faster, quieter and more sustainable way to travel, helping to reduce travelers’ environmental footprint.»
Commenting on the agreement, Dómhnal Slattery, CEO of Avolon, said, «The opportunities for implementing the VX4 are enormous and, as is evident with our placement progress to date, zero-emission eVTOL air travel will reshape the short-haul travel market. Our partnership with Gözen Holding will pioneer UAM in Turkey, bringing sustainable air travel to the region.
For his part, Mekin Gözen, CEO of Gözen Holding, stated, «We are delighted to announce our partnership and the VX4 order with Avolon. As an integral part of the Turkish aviation industry, we believe it is incumbent upon us to be at the forefront of the sustainability movement and that is why we identified Avolon and Vertical’s VX4 as the zero-emission eVTOL aircraft that will revolutionize air travel.»
