Southeast Asian private aviation management and charter group PhilJets plans to add 10 of Lilium’s six-passenger eVTOL aircraft to its fleet. At the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday, the Philippines-based company signed a memorandum of understanding with the German manufacturer covering the provisional sales agreement and a partnership that will focus on defining routes and the market for an on-demand air taxi service.
The companies said they will identify potential locations for operating bases, as well as find partners to secure infrastructure and develop vertiports. They will also coordinate access to Lilium’s existing network of charging hardware providers for its aircraft, which has 30 ducted electric engines installed in its wing and canard.
According to Lilium, the Philippines, with more than 7,500 islands, will prove well-suited for eVTOL aircraft to provide new regional connections. The manufacturer, which plans to bring the Lilium Jet into commercial service in 2026, also sees the potential to establish eVTOL routes in Cambodia.
Once in service, the Lilium Jet would operate mainly on flights of up to 175 kilometers (109 miles) at speeds of up to 250 kph. In addition to the standard model, Lilium offers the more spacious Pioneer Edition with four seats in a cabin that can be partially customized to each client’s taste.
PhilJets, which currently operates 15 jets and helicopters, said that it plans further expansion over the next three years that could include neighboring countries. It operates a mix of private and charter flights and has a maintenance division that supports more than 100 rotorcraft.
Other plans to introduce eVTOL services to the Philippines and Cambodia are also being advanced under a new agreement between rival manufacturer Eve Air Mobility and Singapore-based private aviation group Yugo. PhilJets also participates with Yugo in the project.
“With its growing economy, geography, and important tourism industry, the Philippines is a great match to the Lilium Jet’s capabilities,” said PhilJets chairman Thierry Tea. “Innovation in aviation is gaining traction among regulators, urban planners, and industry leaders of worldwide economies.”