UrbanV, an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, has joined forces with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its cloud provider to revolutionize sustainable urban transport. The collaboration aims to develop a city-wide infrastructure for electrically powered flying taxis, known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, with the first flights expected to take off in Rome by 2025.
UrbanV is set to build its own networks of vertiports, which will serve as landing points for eVTOLs transporting passengers within city centers. By partnering with AWS Professional Services (ProServ), UrbanV will harness AWS' expertise as a leading cloud provider for airlines and airports to develop an innovative and scalable operating model for vertiports. This model can later be expanded internationally in the coming years.
UrbanV aims to launch its first eVTOL service connecting Rome Fiumicino Airport to central Rome by the end of 2024, in time to cater to visitors attending the Jubilee in 2025. The company plans to extend Rome's network to 10 vertiports by 2026, facilitating swift and traffic-free travel between key transit hubs and tourist destinations.
In addition to Rome, UrbanV will establish vertiport networks in Venice, Bologna, and the French Riviera, offering travelers faster and more sustainable alternatives to conventional transportation methods. Over the next five years, UrbanV plans to invest several hundred million euros to expand its model across Europe and globally.
Amazon Web Services will play a pivotal role in developing the operating model for UrbanV vertiports, utilizing AWS cloud technology to automate the passenger experience. This will streamline check-in operations, simplify security checks, and optimize space usage, allowing the vertiports to seamlessly integrate into urban environments. Passengers will receive real-time updates and have their travel plans automatically adjusted in case of connecting flight delays. The implementation of multi-channel check-in and inherent flexibility will further enhance the overall travel experience.
UrbanV's CEO, Carlo Tursi, envisions the transformation of the flying experience through this collaboration. Recognizing AWS as the ideal cloud partner, Tursi emphasizes their unparalleled experience in the airline industry, making them an ideal candidate to bring innovation and new possibilities to the project. The joint effort between UrbanV and AWS aims to create a revolutionary urban travel experience, redefining not only the vehicles involved but also the entire passenger journey.
UrbanV is a collaboration founded by Aeroporti di Roma, SAVE group, Aeroporto di Bologna, and Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, with a mission to design and build vertiport networks. The initial vertiport network will cater to the catchment areas of its founding shareholders, with future plans to expand operations to other areas in Europe and beyond. In October 2022, UrbanV presented the first Italian Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) trial vertiport at Fiumicino airport, conducting a successful manned trial eVTOL flight. The vertiport's development adhered to the technical specifications set by the European Union Agency for Aviation Safety (EASA) and falls within the regulatory sandbox approved by ENAC.
The collaboration between UrbanV and AWS represents a significant stride toward the realization of sustainable urban transport through electric flying taxis. By developing a city-wide infrastructure of vertiports and leveraging AWS' cloud technology, UrbanV aims to create a seamless and eco-friendly travel experience for passengers. With Rome as the focal point for the first eVTOL service, the project holds the potential to transform urban mobility and set a precedent for cities worldwide. As advancements in AAM continue to unfold, the future of urban transport is poised to take flight.
