Virgin Atlantic to pioneer zero-emissions short-haul air travel

Virgin Atlantic is teaming up with Vertical Airspace to pioneer zero-emissions short-haul air travel. The partnership aims to develop new, quicker zero-emission ways to travel – including short-haul, vertical take-off aircraft.

The initiative has been awarded a £9.5m grant by the UK government's Future Flight Challenge. The consortium of Virgin Atlantic and Vertical Airspace and other companies on board, will work on developing the technology needed to introduce what is called Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). AAM offers a new form of travel in congested urban areas and across regions under-served by existing infrastructure.

Vertical Aerospace is developing electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that make virtually no noise and have a range of over 100 miles. The VX4 will carry four passengers plus a pilot. It has four tilting advanced rotors at the front and stowable rotors at the rear, making it capable of speeds over 200mph.

The grant by the government will be used to creating and testing technological developments in aircraft electrification, airspace management, ground infrastructure, operational procedures, and the systems and supporting business cases needed to implement a new model of aerial passenger transport.

The consortium consists of Virgin Atlantic, Vertical Aerospace, Atkins, Skyports, NATS, Connected Places Catapult and leading academic institutions Cranfield University and WMG, University of Warwick.