AirAsia and Skyports Sign LOI to Explore Air Taxi Infrastructure in Malaysia

(03 August 2022, 12:25 +07)  Skyports has signed a Letter of Intent with AirAsia to explore the development of an air taxi infrastructure in Malaysia.

The partnership will draw on AirAsia’s aviation expertise and experience, as well as its on-ground market knowledge and networks, while Skyports’ experience in designing and building take-off and landing infrastructure for eVTOL passenger aircraft will complement its work in advancing regulatory development across markets, through close collaboration with local regulatory bodies and standards setting organisations.

The one-year partnership will focus on joint feasibility studies for the integration of air taxi vertiport infrastructure, the identification of potential vertiport sites, and the development of operational requirements and frameworks to ultimately implement a vertiport network in Malaysia. Initial assessments will prioritise Kuala Lumpur.

AirAsia and Skyports to explore air taxi infrastructure in Malaysia

“This partnership with Skyports will accelerate the review of the infrastructure including vertical take-off and landing platforms in the country as well as strengthen our potential as a zero-emissions ultra-short-haul air travel provider in Southeast Asia,” said Captain Ling Liong Tien, AirAsia Aviation Group Limited Chief Safety Officer and Head of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). “AirAsia has revolutionised commercial air travel for the past two decades and we look forward to working with Skyports which will put us ahead of the curve and shape the future of autonomous aviation in the region.”

A pioneer in the burgeoning AAM industry, Skyports has a diverse portfolio of projects across major cities around the world, including Paris, London and Los Angeles.

Within the Asia Pacific region, the company has already made steady progress, with ongoing partnerships to assess and develop AAM infrastructure in Singapore and Japan.

Yun-Yuan Tay, Head of Asia Pacific, Skyports said, “We are excited to be partnering with AirAsia, a powerhouse airline operator that brings great synergy to our work at Skyports. This partnership highlights the steady progress of AAM development and interest in Malaysia and the wider APAC region. With innovative and forward-looking partners like AirAsia, we will be able to take concrete steps towards the realisation of a safe, efficient and fully-integrated air taxi network which brings real benefits to the people and communities it serves.”

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