Air Taxis Over Rome: Airbus and ITA Airways Plan Cooperation

The aim of the two companies is to create customized UAM services. To achieve this, strategic pilot projects will be identified with the goal of securing public acceptance of UAM. The two companies especially want to highlight the added value of these services for society.

Airbus and ITA want to make aviation cleaner

ITA Airways is the successor to Alitalia and is state-owned by Italy. When the airline was founded at the end of 2020, sustainability was included as one of the principles for future business in aviation. The company has shown great interest in innovative projects to decarbonize aviation. The development of urban air mobility through electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) is a major focus of the state-owned corporation.

Since 2014, Airbus has been researching how electric drives can help advance the development of new types of aircraft. In September 2021, the company presented its all-electric eVTOL prototype CityAirbus NextGen. Airbus is developing a UAM solution with eVTOLs not only to offer a new mobility service but also as an important step in its efforts to reduce emissions in aviation across its entire product range.

The two companies want to make the air taxi a normal means of transport for the future

The agreement provides for a joint approach towards local mobility actors to bring additional partners on board for the safe and sustainable commencement of operations with the CityAirbus NextGen electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

“The partnership between ITA Airways and Airbus began with the development towards more modern, comfortable, and environmentally friendly commercial aircraft equipped with cutting-edge technologies,” said Alfredo Altavilla, Chairman of ITA Airways. “With this agreement, our partnership expands to the segment of urban air mobility for a broader, customer-oriented, innovative, and sustainable offering for our customers.”