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Lilium Teams Up with UrbanLink for AAM Operations in South Florida

Our Bureau - : May 8, 2024 - : 2:51 am

Lilium, developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet is partnering with advanced air mobility (AAM) operator UrbanLink to operate Lilium Jets in South Florida.

UrbanLink will purchase 20 Lilium Jets, with scheduled pre-delivery payments, and become the first airline in the U.S. fully committed to integrating eVTOL aircraft into its fleet.

UrbanLink is led by Ed Wegel, an airline executive with 40 years of experience in financing, operations, and distribution. Wegel has raised more than $1 billion for aviation ventures and led FAA certifications for two U.S. Part 135 airlines and several U.S. Part 121 carriers, including achieving the 2014 certification of Eastern Air Lines’ 737-800 fleet in a record-breaking eight months.

Most recently, Wegel served as CEO & Founder of GlobalX, America’s fastest-growing charter airline. He has also served as a board member for private and public airlines including Atlantic Coast Airlines, BWIA International Airlines, and Eastern Airlines, besides being a key developer of JetBlue’s initial business plan.

UrbanLink sees eVTOLs as a key driver of sustainable regional connectivity across South Florida. The Lilium Jet, with its planned launch range, is poised to fulfill this vision by linking cities such as Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale, extending seamlessly across the peninsula to Marco Island. The service launch is targeted for 2026.

“ This is a huge milestone, not only for Lilium, but for the commercialization of eVTOLs in the U.S.,” said Sebastien Borel, Lilium’s Chief Commercial Officer. “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.”

This order follows the start of assembly of the first Lilium Jet at the end of last year with the first piloted flight test of the Lilium Jet targeted to occur in late 2024.

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