Airbus and LCI joining forces to develop innovative air mobility systems
Airbus and LCI have announced a collaboration agreement to jointly develop ecosystems for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). This partnership aims to incubate and accelerate an entirely new generation of aviation.
The collaboration focuses on the development of partnership scenarios and business models in three core AAM areas: strategy, commercialisation, and financing. Airbus and LCI will collectively develop AAM market perspectives and forecasts, conduct industry research, and harness data analytics to understand new applications and missions.
LCI, a key financial partner for Airbus' Advanced Air Mobility projects, will explore innovative leasing and finance solutions for potential customers of Airbus' flagship AAM vehicle, the CityAirbus NextGen. This electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle is central to Airbus’s vision for urban air mobility, designed to reduce urban congestion and pollution.
CityAirbus NextGen is currently being tested at Airbus' new AAM test centre in Donauwörth, Germany. The test campaign for this vehicle has commenced, and it will make use of the state-of-the-art facilities at the test centre.
The partnership between Airbus and LCI aligns with industry trends such as electric propulsion and autonomous flight technologies, critical for aircraft like CityAirbus NextGen. Both partners share a holistic and pragmatic view of advanced air mobility, including vehicles and infrastructure, financing, and network adoption.
The goal of this strategic alliance is to establish sustainable, scalable ecosystems that facilitate the introduction of air taxis and similar AAM vehicles in congested urban environments. These ecosystems will provide faster and more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional ground transport, contributing to a more efficient and eco-friendly urban landscape.
Airbus is expanding its global network and partnerships to foster a successful and viable Advanced Air Mobility market. This partnership with LCI is part of Airbus' efforts to expand its global network and partnerships to create a viable Advanced Air Mobility market.
LCI's CEO, Jaspal Jandu, expressed delight about the new partnership with Airbus. Balkiz Sarihan, CEO and Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus, expressed excitement about the collaboration with LCI. They will evaluate new commercial structures in areas including fleet, battery, and charging network solutions.
In summary, Airbus and LCI’s collaboration is a strategic alliance to accelerate the development, market preparation, and financing of AAM solutions such as CityAirbus NextGen. This partnership will support advancing the commercial readiness and deployment of CityAirbus NextGen within newly developed urban air mobility ecosystems, contributing to a more efficient and eco-friendly urban transportation landscape.
- The collaboration between Airbus and LCI will involve exploring innovative leasing and finance solutions within the aerospace industry, particularly for Airbus' flagship AAM vehicle, the CityAirbus NextGen.
- The partnership between Airbus and LCI also extends to technology, as they will evaluate new commercial structures in areas such as fleet, battery, and charging network solutions, aligning with industry trends like electric propulsion and autonomous flight technologies.
