Azul has updated the market on their plans for a strategic partnership with Lilium GmbH. Under the partnership, Azul may acquire 220 Lilium electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jets valued at up to $1.0 billion for delivery from 2025.
On Monday (August 2, 2021), Azul announced an update on their strategic partnership with Lilium GmbH to build an extensive electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) network in Brazil. The potential commercial arrangement includes a fleet of 220 Lilium eVTOL jets valued at up to $1.0 billion for delivery from 2025. Azul plans on increasing connectivity in Brazil through this future air network.
In Monday’s announcement, Azul’s CEO, John Rodgerson, said,
“Azul has the most unique and sustainable business model in Brazil. Our brand presence, our unique route network, and our powerful loyalty program give us the tools to create the markets and demand for the Lilium Jet network in Brazil. As we did in the Brazilian domestic market over the last 13 years, we look forward to again, now with the Lilium Jet, creating a whole new market in the years to come.”
Azul’s Chairman, David Neeleman, added,
“Since Azul’s founding 13 years ago, the Brazilian aviation market has doubled with Azul capturing almost 60% of the growth. We know how to create and grow new markets, and once again we see huge market opportunity by bringing the Lilium Jet to Brazil.”
Video Rendering of the 7-Seat Lilium Jet eVTOL Aircraft - Courtesy Lilium
In a separate announcement today, Lilium’s Co-Founder and CEO, Daniel Wiegand, said,
“Azul has brought convenient and affordable air travel to underserved markets across the Americas and this makes them an ideal partner for Lilium. We’re excited to work with Azul’s seasoned team to deploy a co-branded eVTOL network in Brazil. We’re also thrilled to welcome Gabrielle Toledano and Henri Courpron to the future Board of Directors of Lilium N.V., where they’ll strengthen our Board with their operational and financial experience.”
Founded in 2015, Munich-based Lilium is developing the 7-seat Lilium Jet, a vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet aircraft, offering leading capacity, a small noise footprint and high performance. The company is working with aerospace, technology and infrastructure leaders and plans on launching commercial operations in 2024. Lilium’s over 650 member team includes approximately 400 aerospace engineers, as well as a leadership team dedicated to delivering the most successful aircraft in aviation history.
Azul is the largest airline in Brazil, based on the number of departures and cities served. The carrier offers around 700 daily departures to 110 destinations and operates a fleet of over 160 aircraft. The airline employs more than 12,000 and has a network of more than 200 nonstop routes.
Source(s): Azul, Lilium GmbH