Vertical Aerospace today revealed Valo, its new commercial eVTOL aircraft that will enter into service following regulatory approval. Valo will succeed Vertical’s VX4 prototype – with a new, more advanced design shaped by extensive insights from the company’s piloted test programme and direct feedback from airline and operator customers, said the company in a press announcement.
Valo introduces a more aerodynamic airframe, an under-floor battery system, redesigned wing and propeller architecture, upgraded materials, and full certifiable redundancy to meet the world’s most rigorous safety standards. Designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions, Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with airline and operator customers. Early commercial routes are expected to include airport-to-city centre connections.
Valo’s premium cabin will launch with four seats, offering panoramic windows, generous personal space, and a cockpit divider for enhanced safety and privacy, said the company. The aircraft’s flexible design enables expansion to six seats, with the potential to improve operator economics and lower fares for passengers. Valo’s platform also supports emergency medical services, cargo missions and, in the future, defence, hybrid and autonomous variants.
“Crucially, Valo features the largest cargo hold within its class, developed in response to airliner feedback,” says Vertical. “With room for six cabin bags and six checked bags, passengers can travel without compromise – a major advantage on airport-to-city services.
“Vertical is now close to completing full piloted transition flight with its full-scale prototype – the defining manoeuvre of electric aviation in which the aircraft shifts from vertical lift to forward flight. Earlier test phases validated hover, thrustborne and wingborne performance, generating thousands of data points that directly shaped Valo’s certifiable design.
“Vertical will now build seven certification aircraft in the UK to support final testing with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ahead of targeted Type Certification in 2028. After certification, Valo will enter commercial service.”
According to Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace: “With the launch of Valo, Vertical moves from prototype developer to aerospace manufacturer. Valo is the aircraft that turns electric flight into a commercial reality – clean, quiet, fast and engineered for everyday service. It marks a new dawn in transport, one that will connect people in minutes, not hours.”
At the launch event Vertical also launched its UK network plans and a sales contract with Héli Air Monaco.
Vertical Aerospace, Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow Group announced plans to launch the UK’s first electric air-taxi routes between Canary Wharf and major transport hubs, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Cambridge and Oxford. The first phase, planned from Q1 2029, will focus on the UK’s highest-value mobility corridors. The proposed routes, operated by Bristow, would dramatically cut journey times compared with traditional ground travel – for example, cutting a typical Canary Wharf-to-Heathrow transfer from 60–90 minutes on the ground to 12 minutes in the air, according to the partners.
Earlier this year, Bristow and Vertical also announced a Ready-to-Fly model providing turnkey access to aircraft, pilots, maintenance and insurance, alongside Bristow’s pre-order for up to 50 Valo aircraft, with options to purchase up to 50 more.
Meanwhile, Vertical Aerospace has also announced a significant aircraft order from aHéli Air Monaco, a helicopter operator based in the French Riviera. Héli Air Monaco will operate Valo across its network, connecting destinations such as Monaco, Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez.
“Héli Air Monaco will integrate Valo into its high-end mobility services, offering seamless transfers between airports and heliports,” said Vertical. “The partnership is being supported by Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and Monaco Heliport, to develop the infrastructure adaptations required for Valo’s future operations.”
Jacques Crovetto, CEO of Héli Air Monaco, said: “With Valo, we are reimagining the future of travel across the Riviera. By decarbonising our fleet of helicopters and dramatically reducing our noise footprint, we will be delivering a flight experience for our passengers that respects our neighbours, our environment, and shapes a sustainable future.”
Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Management Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, said: “The arrival of electric vertical take-off aircraft extends our efforts in transforming and decarbonizing air mobility, particularly over short distances. Our region offers a unique opportunity to fly over the sea to directly connect the main economic, cultural, or tourist destinations. As an alternative to the helicopter, the eVTOL has its place in the air transport offering and can provide a new short distance mobility solution in the future, including toward the hinterland. The airports of the Côte d’Azur, a laboratory for the airport of tomorrow, with the second largest platform in France and the gateway in and out of a landlocked region, must support these new decarbonized modes of mobility.”
Jérôme Journet, Director of Civil Aviation in the Principality of Monaco, said: “We welcome the announcement of this new generation of aircraft, which promises a major step forward toward a decarbonized, quieter, and more environmentally-friendly aviation. The expertise developed in urban and regional air mobility places our region in a favorable position to support the emergence of more sustainable air transport solutions.”
Valo – Targeted technical specifications
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For more information
https://vertical-aerospace.com/