Vertical Aerospace is launching its U.S. tour in New York City this week, with a mock-up of its Valo eVTOL on public display at the Classic Car Club in NYC from 23 January.
According to the company: “Valo is Vertical’s certification-ready aircraft, designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions, and engineered to meet airliner-level safety standards. Valo’s premium cabin will launch with four seats, offering panoramic windows, generous personal space and class-leading luggage capacity. The aircraft’s flexible design, shaped by extensive airline and operator input, enables expansion to six seats, with the potential to improve operator economics and lower fares for passengers. The aircraft is targeting certification in 2028, enabling entry into service in the U.S. and globally with airline and operator customers including American Airlines.”
Vertical is working with Bristow and Skyports on a range of future mobility solutions for Valo in the U.S., including routes in and out of Manhattan, New York, said the company. “The plans will cut multi-hour road journeys to minutes, such as flying from John F. Kennedy (JFK) and other airports to Manhattan….Informed by Bristow’s global operating experience as the world’s leading provider of helicopter transportation and Skyports’ established skyport locations, including its Downtown Skyport in Manhattan, the plans focus on operational feasibility, infrastructure integration, and real-world use cases.
Vertical’s plans for an electric air-taxi network in New York, launched with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow Use cases being progressed in the New York City area include:
- Airport transfers: connections between Downtown Skyport and major regional airports, significantly reducing journey times for travellers, e.g., connecting JFK to Manhattan in minutes.
- Event travel: game-day access from Downtown Skyport to MetLife Stadium, potentially via established aviation facilities such as Teterboro Airport.
- Aerial sightseeing and air tours: departing from Downtown Skyport, taking advantage of Valo’s large cabin, panoramic windows and quiet, zero-emissions operation.
- Weekend and leisure travel: connections between Downtown Skyport and East Hampton Airport, supporting premium short-break travel.
- Cross-town urban transfers: links between Downtown Skyport and heliports such as West 30th Street or East 40th Street, offering a quieter, lower-emissions alternative to conventional helicopters.
- Emergency Services – medical transfers within New York area, e.g., Westchester County Medical Center to New York University Langone.
“This work builds on Vertical’s recent UK collaboration with Bristow and Skyports, which outlines planned electric air-taxi routes from Canary Wharf to major UK transport hubs, including London Heathrow Airport, and demonstrates how electric aviation will be integrated safely and practically into existing urban infrastructure,” concludes the company.
For more information
https://vertical-aerospace.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Vertical-Aerospace-Brings-Valo-to-New-York-Outlining-Plans-for-Electric-Air-Taxi-Routes.pdf