Early 2029 Bristow's Start Of eVTOL Operations Helicopter and transport specialist Bristow has identified that it will commence Air Taxi operations in the UK in early 2029. This is because the company has ordered the eVTOL offering from Vertical Aerospace, the newly unveiled redesigned Valo eVTOL. Additionally they are also teaming-up with Vertical Aerospace to be able to develop the network of routes that will permit them to effectively initiate and integrate Air Taxi flight into their operations.
Bristow will integrate initially with planned new routes to cut multi-hour road journeys to minutes by air, targeting Canary Wharf–Heathrow in 12 Minutes. The Valo is projected to be able to run at 130-knots with a range of 87 nautical miles.
Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of Valo, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. The UK-based manufacturer said it aims to produce 175 aircraft by the start of 2030, rising to an annual total of more than 225 by the fourth quarter of that year.
This year alone Bristow made orders for 50 Valo aircraft as well as options for another 50 aircraft. Bristow said it will partner with Vertical and vertiport group Skyports Infrastructure to develop the new services and their vertiport infrastructure. This is a good collaboration because Skyports already experience in the UK. Skyports operates the London Heliport—close to Canary Wharf—and Bicester Vertiport near Oxford. For more information: Bristow 3151 Briarpark Drive, Suite 700 7th Floor Houston, Texas 77042 www.bristowgroup.com ***
