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Almost every major industry is facing public pressure to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint, and the airline industry is no exception.
The commercial aviation industry is reported to be responsible for nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions. In response, the industry has pledged to find ways to reduce and reduce carbon use, including making their planes more fuel-efficient, making their routes more efficient and retiring older gas-guzzling models.
The aviation industry was built on innovation and United Airlines. (UAL) He has now made a big move by investing in a company he believes will help reduce the company’s overall environmental impact; It also opens up new markets.
United Airlines will take its share in the company
United Airlines invests $15 million in Embraer-backed EV Air Mobility (ERG) According to Airlines Weekly, the company. As part of the deal, United has ordered 200 of the company’s electric air taxis and has options for another 200.
Also known as EVitols, these craft can typically hold four people and are electrically upright and able to land. Think of them as miniature versions of helicopters that you can hail for cross-town travel.
United’s plan is for air taxis to connect airports with urban centers within 60 miles of the airport. The goal is for passengers to make those trips carbon-free.
In a statement, Mike Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures, said eVitols are “going to change the way we work and live, and in some cases, the way we live,” and that “the more we study this market…the more convinced we are.” This is expected to revolutionize the passenger experience in densely populated urban areas.
“This decarbonizes the journey to and from the airport,” he said. It has made the cost of an air taxi ride equal to the price of Uber Black. Very expensive, but not accessible.
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Eve could begin delivering its vehicles to United in 2026.
It’s not United’s first investment in space. In the year In February 2021, United announced a $1 billion Archer Aviation order (ACHR) Planned eVTOL. Last month, it made a $10 million down payment to Archer, which it hopes will have the plane certified by the end of 2024.
United has recently been partnering with various companies to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint. It partnered with Denver-area private bus operator Landline to offer low-cost, low-emissions trips between Breckenridge and Fort Collins, Colo., and last year placed a 200-plane order with Mesa Air Group. Gothenburg, Sweden-based Heart Aerospace for an electric 19-seat regional jet.
The Federal Aviation Administration has not certified electric-powered aircraft for commercial flight.
United Airlines
Air taxis are not market ready.
The air taxi industry has been taking off recently. Last year, Apple lost three engineers central to its self-driving car project for Silicon Valley firm Joby Aviation Inc. (Work) and archer.
However, there are still many hurdles facing the air taxi industry. The US Federal Aviation Administration has been extremely slow and deliberate in its actions following the decertification of Boeing’s 737 Max planes. The two planes They were involved in serious accidents in 2018 and 2019, which were linked to problems with the automatic control system.
Many industry watchers are skeptical that airlines will get approval for electric planes anytime soon. Technological issues still need to be worked out, including building an air traffic framework that can manage multiple small planes in congested skies over large cities.
Still, many analysts expect the taxis to be a big growth industry when they fly, according to Morgan Stanley, the urban air mobility market could reach up to $1.5 trillion by 2040.
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