Signature and UrbanLink Set Course for Electric Flight in Florida

UrbanLink Air Mobility has enlisted Signature Aviation, the world’s largest FBO group, to support the launch and expansion of an electric air taxi network in Florida. Under a letter of intent announced on November 6, the partners agreed to jointly research infrastructure needs for UrbanLink’s planned fleet of Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 electric airplanes. They also aim to establish an operating base for UrbanLink at an unspecified Signature FBO location in South Florida.

As part of a deal announced in July, Miami-based UrbanLink will operate up to 10 Beta Alia CX300s in South Florida as early as 2027, pending the necessary regulatory approvals. The company also intends to operate the Alia 250 eVTOL model, which Beta expects to certify about a year after its conventional counterpart enters service. Meanwhile, Signature is also working with Beta to install the latter’s electric aircraft charging infrastructure at FBO locations across the country. 

“We are honored to partner with Signature, the world’s leading network of private aviation terminals, to expand our Florida network and establish our operations base at their location in South Florida,” said Ed Wegel, founder, chairman, and CEO of UrbanLink. He noted that UrbanLink, Signature, and Beta “are working closely together on route development and base planning to ensure a seamless transition to all-electric air mobility.”

Signature Aviation has more than a dozen FBO locations in Florida and continues to expand its footprint in the state. On November 6, the company announced its purchase of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Jet Center at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE).

“The use of private aviation terminals is critical as we launch operations and await the build-out of vertiport infrastructure to support flight operations beyond existing airports,” Wegel added. “We will also be working closely with Signature on the planning and development of those vertiports.” 

Earlier this year, Signature signed a joint venture agreement with UrbanV, an Italian advanced air mobility infrastructure specialist, to accelerate the development of vertiports in the U.S., with an initial focus on Florida, New York, California, and Texas. The FBO group has also partnered with Boeing subsidiary Wisk Aero to prepare ground infrastructure for its autonomous and pilotless eVTOL aircraft. 

UrbanLink has signed deals with various manufacturers in the advanced air and maritime mobility sector in its quest to decarbonize transportation in South Florida. It has ordered up to 47 Viceroy electric seagliders from Regent, and it has signed provisional sales agreements for up to 20 Integrity eVTOL aircraft from Crisalion Mobility and 40 of Traverse Aero’s hybrid-electric Orca eVTOL cargo drones.