United Airlines plans a fleet of up to 400 electric flying taxis that the carrier believes can revolutionise commuting around the world.
The US carrier made a $15 million investment in manufacturer Eve Air Mobility plus a conditional purchase deal for 200 four-seat electric aircraft plus 200 options.
Deliveries are expected as early as 2026.
With a range of 60 miles, the Eve air taxis have the potential not only to offer a sustainable commute but also to reduce noise levels by 90% compared to current conventional aircraft, according to the airline.
United has now financially backed two eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle) companies.
The airline last month gave a $10 million deposit to a California-based eVTOL company for 100 aircraft.
United said its investment in Eve was driven in part by confidence in the potential growth opportunities in the urban air mobility (UAM) market and Eve’s relationship with traditional aircraft manufacturer Embraer.
Michael Leskinen, president of corporate venture offshoot United Airlines Ventures, said: “United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation.
“United is making history again, by becoming the first major airline to publicly invest in two eVTOL companies.
“Our agreement with Eve highlights our confidence in the urban air mobility market and serves as another important benchmark toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – without using traditional offsets.
“Together, we believe our suite of clean energy technologies will revolutionise air travel as we know it and serve as the catalyst for the aviation industry to move toward a sustainable future.”
Eve co-chief executive Andre Stein added: “I am confident that our UAM agnostic solutions, coupled with the global know-how we have been developing at Eve and Embraer’s heritage, are the best fit for this initiative, giving United’s customers a quick, economical and sustainable way to get to its hub airports and commute in dense urban environments.”