SITA and UrbanV sign MoU to develop a digital-first passenger experience for UrbanV’s vertiports in Rome
In October 2022, Italian vertiport operator UrbanV worked alongside Volocopter, Aeroporti di Roma, and Atlantia to complete the first crewed eVTOL test flights in Italy, a key milestone in the roll out of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Rome. UrbanV described this as “representing our first step towards establishing a network of vertiports in the Rome region.” Today, SITA UrbanV, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a digital-first passenger experience for UrbanV’s vertiports in Rome.
Deloitte describes AAM as the emergence of transformative airborne technology to transport people and goods in new, community-friendly, and cost-effective aircraft in both rural and urban environments; it is the next inflection point in the aerospace industry’s ongoing evolution. Vertiport network operator UrbanV seeks to reduce emissions within the air transport industry whilst reducing congestion and travel times in cities. Working towards integrated mobility, UrbanV “envisions vertiports being interoperable by multiple eVTOL operators and integrated within the local aviation ecosystem, such as Fiumicino Airport.”
UrbanV’s test vertiport is situated at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and, together with SITA, the pair will design, test, and refine a “new passenger processing and operating ecosystem to support the first flight between Fiumicino and Rome’s city centre.”
Sergio Colella, SITA President for Europe, said:
“We strongly believe in the development of the AAM market, getting it right from the start via vertiports that are hubs of integrated mobility. This agreement aims to shape the future travel experience at vertiports globally. Together, we will explore new standards and a digital-first passenger experience by leveraging our mutual expertise in air transport for the AAM industry. This will accelerate a safe adoption of Advanced Air Mobility in Italy and beyond.”
Vertiport aims to be among the first in the world to launch an AAM commercial network starting from Rome, planning to enable the first route (Fiumicino Airport – Rome City Center) by the end of 2024.
For more on AAM see:
- United Airlines and Archer Aviation announce first commercial electric air taxi route
- Fly less or innovate more? Air France-KLM CEO criticises Schiphol flight limits
- Saudia joins the eVTOL race signing MoU with Lilium
