From China to Brazil, from Florida to Austria, from Saudi Arabia to Cambodia, the impact of a potential Lilium’s exit from the advanced air mobility market would have worldwide repercussions to cities and airports planning regional eVTOL services in the next few years.
Using data from the Global AAM/UAM Market Map we have identified the global network footprint of the manufacturer, which has the most extensive network plans of any eVTOL manufacturer. Many countries have based their regional electric aviation development strategies on Lilium technology, while plans for more than 40 vertiport developments will be put on hold.
These are some of the most important Lilium network programmes which would be impacted by its demise.
Europe
At the Airspace World event in March 2024, Lilium showed its plans for a central European regional network of services, stretching from Venice to Frankfurt. Beyond this network, Lilium has an agreement with ASL Group for the sale of 60 Lilium Jets and the development of a network of landing sites in the Benelux countries. And in May 2024, Lilium, UrbanV, the Italian vertiport network operator, and Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur (ACA), managing Nice Côte d’Azur airport, the second largest airport place in France, along with the airports of Cannes Mandelieu and Golfe de Saint-Tropez, announced plans to bring Lilium Jet flights to the South of France starting in 2026. The companies say a new network will connect the French Riviera with key destinations throughout Southern France including Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Golfe de Saint-Tropez, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille.
In July 2022 Lilium announced it had signed an agreement with Helity Copter Airlines (“Helity”) to develop an eVTOL network in Andalusia. Under the agreement, Helity intends to initially purchase five Lilium Jets to provide premium and business charter flights to its customers. In May 2023 Lilium announced an agreement with Air-Dynamic SA, a Switzerland-based private jet and helicopter company. And in May 2024 Lilium and eVolare, a subsidiary of Volare Aviation, one of the United Kingdom’s largest helicopter and private jet operators, announced the signing of binding sale and purchase agreements for the acquisition of four Lilium Jets.
Far East
In February 2024 Lilium and Philijets, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Singapore Airshow which includes the intent to purchase 10 Lilium Jets, as well as a future strategic collaboration on the establishment of an eVTOL operation network across the Philippines and other Southeast Asia countries, such as Cambodia.
In November 2023 Lilium and CITIC Offshore Helicopter announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow the two companies to strategically collaborate on the establish of an eVTOL operation network in China, starting with the Greater Bay Area. In June 2023 the Bao’an District of Shenzhen municipality and Lilium in June 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the opening of a regional Lilium headquarters in Bao’an District as a first step in a partnership to establish a safe and sustainable eVTOL service in China with the Lilium Jet
Latin America
AZUL Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras in August 2021 signed an order with Lilium worth USD1 billion for 220 six-seat eVTOLs to be delivered in 2025.
Middle East
In October 2022, SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, and Lilium announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the proposed development and operation by SAUDIA of an eVTOL network across Saudi Arabia. The proposed arrangement will make SAUDIA the first airline in the Middle East and North Africa region to purchase 100 Lilium Jets alongside yearly support services.
The network would include flights of up to 250km.
And in November 2023 ArcosJet in Dubai and Lilium announced ArcosJet’s purchase of 10 Lilium Jets, expected to be delivered through 2026 and 2027. This follows the appointment of ArcosJet as an exclusive authorised dealer for private sales of the Lilium Jet in their region.
North America
In March 2022 NetJets signed a Memorandum of Understanding, giving it the right to order up to 150 Lilium jets. The zero-emissions eVTOLs would be used for its US and European fractional ownership programmes. In November 2020 Lilium, Tavistock Development Company, and the City of Orlando announced they will be working to develop a network of vertiports and eVTOL routes throughout Florida. The first will be launched by 2025 in Lake Nona, Orlando. “A variety of standardized vertiport designs will allow flexibility so that sites can be uniquely assembled or incorporated into existing transport structures in both urban and suburban developments,” said the partners in an announcement.
In May 2024 Lilium announced its partnership with AAM operator UrbanLink to operate Lilium Jets in South Florida. As part of the agreement, UrbanLink will purchase 20 Lilium Jets, with scheduled pre-delivery payments, and become the first airline in the U.S. fully committed to integrating eVTOL aircraft into its fleet. UrbanLink’s entry into the region includes plans to utilize the network of Florida vertiports that Lilium and its partners have worked on over the past five years. UrbanLink is partnered with Ferrovial Vertiports, a subsidiary of Ferrovial, a global infrastructure company, to explore the development of sites for vertiports in key U.S. markets. The vertiports will serve as launchpads for UrbanLink’s Lilium Jets services.
(Image: Lilium)