Brazil’s Gol plans to launch electric air taxis as cheap as an Uber

Brazilian low-cost airline Gol plans to launch a fleet of zero-emission electric air taxis in São Paulo that aim to be as cheap as an Uber. The carrier will buy or lease 250 of the futuristic aircraft, which look like mini helicopters, from Avolon, according to Dómhnal Slattery, chief executive of the Dublin-based aircraft leasing group. Avolon bought 500 of the aircraft, valued at $2bn from the UK’s Vertical Aerospace in June, the start-up’s largest single order. The financial terms of the deal for the air taxis, called VA-X4 eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), were not disclosed. Gol declined an interview request. “It’s going to be an absolute disrupter. We’re going to democratise air travel,” Slattery said. “Helicopters have been the domain of the ultra wealthy.” Brazil is the ideal country to launch air taxis since it has one of the world’s highest number of helicopters and helipads, Slattery said. The aircraft, which American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and others have also bought, are still some years away from commercial flights. Yet to be built, they are expected to be delivered in late 2024 or 2025. “Our basic estimate at the moment is that the operating cost here for this aircraft will be the equivalent of $1 per passenger over a 25-mile trip,” Slattery said. “We think we can get the cost of this down to the equivalent of an Uber ride, equivalent to downtown Manhattan to JFK.” The aircraft, designed to transport four passengers plus one pilot, will have power systems designed by Rolls-Royce, Slattery said. Besides taxi services, they could also be used for cargo and medical evacuations.<br/>