Partnership includes Corporación América Airports, GOL, Grupo Comporte and Vertical Aerospace

Partnership will explore infrastructure requirements to make eVTOL operations a reality in Brazil this decade

Dublin/London/New York/São Paulo, 2 June 2022 – A partnership of global leaders in aviation and airports announces its intention to explore the infrastructure requirements to bring eVTOL passenger flight to Brazil within this decade. The partnership includes:

• Avolon, the world’s second largest aircraft leasing company;
• Corporación América Airports [NYSE: CAAP], the largest global private sector airport operator by number of airports;
• GOL, Brazil’s largest airline;
• Grupo Comporte, a leading Brazilian transport operator; and
• Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], the aerospace and technology company developing and manufacturing eVTOL aircraft.

The partnership will explore and define vertiport design and locations, as well as further infrastructure requirements for eVTOL operations in Brazil. With its well-developed Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market based on helicopter services, advanced aviation ecosystem and unique demographics, Brazil is set to become one of the pioneering markets for eVTOL services, including for Vertical’s VX4.

Each partner brings sector-specific and complementary expertise to bring eVTOL operations into operation in Brazil this decade. In particular, the partnership will benefit from Corporación América Airports’ special team dedicated to the research and development of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) segment and its two-decade long expertise in airports design, construction and operation, as well as passenger traffic management. Corporación América Airports has already developed its own conceptual vertiport design and progressed AAM traffic analysis across several countries.

With some of the most congested cities in the world, the introduction of eVTOLs, such as the VX4, will transform how people move around and above the urban landscape, in Brazil. The VX4 will permit short-haul zero emissions journeys that will revolutionise city air travel for Brazilians’ everyday lives by changing how we connect, commute and travel more efficiently, all in a more sustainable way.

This partnership builds on GOL’s and Grupo Comporte’s commitment to purchase or lease up to 250 of Vertical’s VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon, announced last year. That commitment saw Avolon launch and lead a Working Group aiming at commercialising eVTOL aircraft in Brazil with Vertical Aerospace, Grupo Comporte and GOL. The Working Group has already conducted project familiarisation workshops with the Brazilian civil aviation authority Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) to permit the swift validation of the piloted, zero operating emissions and four-passenger VX4 aircraft. The VX4 is projected to have speeds of up to 200 mph, a range over 100 miles, be near silent when in flight and offer low cost per passenger mile.

Dómhnal Slattery, CEO of Avolon commented: “The scale of our ambition for eVTOLs is reflected in our partnerships with some of the leading transportation and airport operators in Latin America. We are partnered with companies that share our ambition to materially reshape the commercial aviation market. Our objective is to deliver the infrastructure requirements to bring zero emissions travel to Brazil mid this decade and revolutionise air travel in the region.”

Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporación América Airports, commented: “A new mobility ecosystem is arising and Corporación América Airports as a world leader in airport operations wants to be an agent of change in supporting the AAM implementation in those regions where we operate. With our expertise as airport operators in six countries in three continents along more than 20 years, we are committed to contribute with the development of the AAM ecosystem, in order to better connect people, goods and cultures and promoting a leaner, faster and more sustainable air transport.”

Paulo Kakinoff, CEO of GOL commented: "GOL completely bets on the expertise of CAAP in Advanced Aerial Mobility. Within reach, we have at hand a unique opportunity to unite the efforts of all parties involved to create a sustainable and safe operating ecosystem for eVTOL, with zero carbon emissions, both in Brazil and beyond. Constantly expanding in the regional segment, GOL is committed to including new and providential connectivity alternatives with this new air modal, based on its already extensive air network."

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder and CEO of Vertical commented: “I’m delighted that Vertical is partnering with Avolon, GOL, Grupo Comporte and CAAP to deliver critical eVTOL infrastructure in Brazil. It was in Brazil that I had the inspiration to begin Vertical Aerospace so it is incredible to see it becoming a reality there”.

About Corporación América Airports’ Operational Footprint
Corporación América Airports currently operates 53 airports globally, including 2 airports in Brazil. Through its Brazilian joint venture with Inframerica, Corporación América Airports operates the Brasilia airport – which is the second largest airport in Brazil by passenger numbers – and Natal. Additionally, it is the largest private airport concession operator in the world, based on the number of airports under management. Corporación América Airports brings substantial AAM thought leadership, having studied the AAM space since 2021 and has an internal AAM working group, that has developed a conceptual vertiport design and carried out AAM traffic analysis around the airports it operates in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Italy.

About Avolon’s VX4 Orderbook
In June 2021, Avolon ordered 500 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) valued at US$2 billion. Since announcing that order, Avolon placed 250 VX4 aircraft with GOL and Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 aircraft with Japan Airlines in Japan, a minimum of 100 aircraft with AirAsia, and up to 100 aircraft with Gözen Holding. Avolon has now fully placed the entirety of its initial VX4 orderbook, with the orderbook being oversubscribed by 50 options.

About the VX4 eVTOL Aircraft
The four passenger, one pilot VX4 is projected to have speeds up to 200mph, a range over 100 miles, near silent when in flight, zero operating emissions and low cost per passenger mile. Upon its introduction, the VX4 will be designed to the safest certification standards, set by EASA and the CAA, at the same level as commercial aircraft. The VX4 is expected to open up advanced air mobility to a whole new range of passengers and transform how we travel. Find out more: vertical-aerospace.com