Jet-setters in New York City may no longer need to plan hours ahead of their travels with a new electric air-taxi service in the works that can transfer commuters to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and other airports in just seven minutes.
Vertical Aerospace is preparing to bring its fully electric aircraft, Valo, to New York City as part of an ambitious plan to introduce rapid, low‑emission air travel across the region. In partnership with Bristow Group and Skyports Infrastructure, the company aims to create routes that dramatically cut travel time between Manhattan and key airports. The aircraft was showcased in New York City last month at the Classic Car Club, building on its global unveiling in London in December. Vertical Aerospace expects Valo to receive regulatory approval in 2028.
With its combination of zero‑emission flight, low noise levels, rapid journey times, and airliner‑level safety standards, Valo offers a glimpse of what high‑speed urban mobility may soon look like. If certification stays on schedule, New Yorkers could be stepping into electric air taxis by 2028—reaching the airport in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
A ‘New Dawn in Transport’
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, described Valo as a turning point for the company and for electric aviation more broadly. “With the launch of Valo, Vertical moves from prototype developer to aerospace manufacturer,” Simpson told Newsweek. “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.”
Domhnal Slattery, chair of Vertical Aerospace, echoed this sentiment, calling Valo a new benchmark in the sector. He told Newsweek that the aircraft is “bigger, safer, and more capable” than anything currently available, marking “a breakthrough for aviation.” Slattery described Valo as the product of precision engineering, a passenger‑first design philosophy, and extensive collaboration with global aerospace partners, “creating an aircraft with the most compelling operator economics.”
Simpson added that the aircraft’s U.S. showcase builds on momentum from its London unveiling and a year of progress in testing, partnerships, and certification. He called New York “a natural next step to explore how electric aviation could support urban and regional travel in the U.S.,” emphasizing that the company is working with Bristow and Skyports “to keep safety, certification, and real-world operations at the core.”
Minutes-Long Travel Between Manhattan and Major Airports
Vertical Aerospace says it is exploring routes using existing heliports such as the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. According to the company, these routes are intended to slash travel times, turning multi‑hour road journeys into quick flights. The company says the aircraft could connect Manhattan to JFK in the New York City borough of Queens, as well as Newark Airport and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, in seven minutes. A ride to East Hampton Airport could take just 42 minutes. It also noted that additional possible use cases in the region include event travel, sightseeing flights, leisure trips, cross‑town transfers, and emergency services.
‘Much Cheaper’ Than Helicopters
The company describes Valo as fully electric, quiet, and “much cheaper” to operate than helicopters, which it says “are noisy, polluting, need frequent service, and require more space to take off and land.”
Inside the aircraft, Valo features four seats in a cabin offering panoramic windows, generous personal space, and luggage capacity. A cockpit divider has been included for safety and privacy. The design also allows for expansion to six seats, a change the company says could improve operator economics while lowering fares for travelers. Valo is designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions.
The company expects Valo will be “significantly less expensive than similar transport,” adding that it anticipates “the operating cost to be around $2 per passenger mile—which over time, could make a flight on Valo comparable to the cost of an Uber Comfort or Luxe/Black.”
‘Highest Global Safety Standard’
A spokesperson for the company said Valo is being certified to the same safety standard as that of commercial airliners, “meaning passengers will be as safe on a short-haul trip on Valo as they are on an American Airlines flight from New York to London.”
According to the company, passengers will see Valo operated under the branding of major airlines and operators rather than Vertical Aerospace itself. “Our customers will be operating the Valo aircraft as part of their fleet, such as how American Airlines pilots currently operate Boeing or Airbus aircraft,” the spokesperson said. “When you see one of our aircraft in flight, you won’t see Vertical branding but rather American Airlines or Bristow.”
Vertical Aerospace said it has significant orders from Bristow, which is said to be “the world’s leading helicopter operator.” The company notes that Valo is “the only eVTOL [electric vertical takeoff and landing] company certifying to the highest global safety standard,” a position it says will allow it to operate globally once certified and to secure U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval shortly thereafter.
Following FAA certification, Valo could operate across a wide range of U.S. markets. The company says future expansion will be driven by partnerships with airline and operator customers, including American Airlines and Bristow, and that it intends to build on its presence in New York by exploring additional city routes with new operators and infrastructure partners.
Do you have a travel-related story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Read the full article here
