Héli Air Monaco turns to electric flying taxis to link the Côte d’Azur

The Principality’s historic helicopter operator is partnering with British manufacturer Vertical Aerospace to launch electric vertical take-off aircraft by 2028.

Héli Air Monaco has just signed a memorandum of understanding with Vertical Aerospace covering the pre-order of Valo aircraft, an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) unveiled on 10 December in London. According to a joint press release issued by the two companies, the aircraft will operate routes between Monaco, Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, among the busiest air taxi corridors in Europe.

Vertical Aerospace is aiming for simultaneous certification by European and British regulators in 2028. The Valo cabin will initially accommodate four passengers, rising to six in the longer term, with generous luggage space and panoramic windows.

Infrastructure to be adapted

Côte d’Azur Airports and the Monaco heliport are supporting the project in order to develop the necessary infrastructure adaptations. Nice, France’s second-largest airport platform, is positioning itself as a testing ground for the future of air transport.

According to Jacques Crovetto, Chief Executive Officer of Héli Air Monaco, the challenge is twofold: “By decarbonising our fleet and significantly reducing our noise footprint, we will offer our passengers a flight experience that is respectful of our neighbours and our environment,” he said in a statement. Jérôme Journet, Director of Monaco’s Civil Aviation Authority, welcomed the announcement, considering that regional expertise in urban air mobility places the Côte d’Azur in a strong position to support the emergence of more sustainable air transport solutions.