Electric air taxi developer Lilium is to partner with business aviation company Luxaviation to establish airline operations in Europe.
Luxaviation has more than 60 years of experience operating passenger service with hundreds of aircraft under management and 10 Air Operator Certificates (AOC) across Europe, including the first EASA AOC for a business jet operator.
The role of Luxaviation will include securing necessary approvals and managing pilots, who will be trained following a type rating concept developed by Lufthansa Aviation Training, another Lilium partner.
As Lilium continues developing its launch networks in Europe for the planned commercial launch in 2024, Luxaviation Group will also work with Lilium on the development of its best-in-class customer experience, built around Lilium’s digital airline platform and the 7-seat Lilium Jet.
Remo Gerber, Chief Operating Officer at Lilium, said, “We are proud to be working alongside Luxaviation Group, a leading operator in the aviation sector with a track record in offering an innovative and customer-focused service, to build the Lilium network in Europe.”
Patrick Hansen, Group CEO at Luxaviation Group said, “Electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft will fundamentally change the way we travel, and the Lilium network is poised to be at the forefront of this sea change in aviation.”
Lilium has previously announced plans for launch networks in Germany through partnerships with Munich, Nuremberg, Dusseldorf, and Cologne/Bonn airports.
In March this year, Lilium announced the 7-seat Lilium Jet, its first serial aircraft. The eVTOL will have a maximum range of 250km+, a cruise speed of 280km/h, with zero operating emissions.
It has been in development since 2019 and received its CRI-A01 certification basis from EASA last year. The first aircraft is expected to come off the production line next year. With a capacity for six passengers and a pilot, it is projected to provide industry leading capacity for both passengers and cargo.