Atlantic Aviation is expanding its plans to support eVTOL operations through a partnership announced Wednesday with manufacturer Lilium. Under a memorandum of understanding, the business aviation services group will prepare its North American network of more than 100 FBOs to support commercial operations with the six-passenger Lilium Jet.
The companies said their collaboration will focus on infrastructure provisioning, including electric charging equipment, and determining how to optimize the passenger experience. Joint strategic planning will also cover aircraft flight paths and operations forecasting.
Lilium’s aircraft is expected to operate on sectors of up to around 175 kilometers (109 miles) at speeds of up to 250 kph. In addition to the standard model, Lilium is developing a more spacious Pioneer Edition with four seats in a cabin that could be customized for private owners.
The German manufacturer aims to complete type certification in time for commercial services to start in 2026. Prospective operators for the Lilium Jet, which has 30 ducted fan electric engines in its wing and canard, include NetJets and eVolare. It also has agreements with several other companies in Europe, China, Brazil, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, including airport operators and support providers.
Unlike some other leading eVTOL aircraft developers, Lilium has a business plan based on selling its all-electric vehicle to individuals and companies for a mix of private, charter, and shuttle services, for which it would provide aftermarket support and services. “This go-to-market strategy will allow for a diverse revenue stream and is predicated on aviation facilities being ready for the Lilium Jet, emphasizing the value of partnering with Atlantic,” the company said in a media statement.
Atlantic Aviation has a presence at more than 30 airports within Lilium’s intended U.S. launch markets in Florida, Southern California, Texas, and the Northeast corridor between Washington, D.C., and Boston. The company has similar partnership agreements with other eVTOL aircraft manufacturers, including Archer, Joby, and Beta Technologies.
“Atlantic Aviation is eager to work alongside Lilium, a pioneer in the burgeoning eVTOL sector, to construct the necessary infrastructure for their regional air mobility service in the U.S.,” said John Redcay, the FBO group’s chief commercial and sustainability officer. “This collaboration underscores our firm conviction in the transformative potential of eVTOL technology in reshaping regional travel, and we are dedicated to furnishing the technology-agnostic infrastructure required to bring this vision to fruition.”