Eve Air Mobility (Eve) and Blade Air Mobility (Blade) on Monday (June 19) announced the extension of their long-standing partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to transform electric air mobility in Europe, beginning with France.
At the 54th International Paris Air Show, the two companies signed an MoU to integrate Eve's advanced vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) or electric vertical aircraft (EVA) into Blade's European route network.
"The continued partnership between Eve and Blade showcases the dedication and collaboration of both companies to transform the aviation industry and introduce electric air transportation to new regions," said Andre Stein, Co-CEO of Eve.
"By combining our expertise and resources, we are committed to expanding advanced air mobility with innovative solutions that make travel more accessible for passengers and drive significant environmental improvements."
Blade is currently working on developing practical applications for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) including identifying future routes in France and other European countries that could potentially support AAM operations.
Last year, Blade acquired charter and scheduled flight operations of three of the largest urban air mobility operators in Southern Europe: Monacair, Héli Sécurité, and Azur Hélicoptère. Bringing them into the new MoU positions them as crucial contributors to the ongoing technical and commercial discussions with Eve.
"Extending our partnership with Eve underscores Blade's commitment to leading the transition from conventional to electric vertical aircraft," said Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade.
"Our shared vision for a safer, quieter and more sustainable future in air travel is the driving force behind this collaboration. The introduction of Eve's aircraft into our European network will mark a significant step towards realizing this goal. Together, we are poised to transform the travel industry and make a lasting positive impact on the environment."
The extended partnership builds upon the past previous agreements signed between Eve and Blade. Last year, Eve entered into an agreement with Blade India to deploy up to 200 eVTOLs in the country. The year before, Blade and Eve signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for operations in the United States, enabling Eve to provide up to 60 eVTOLs annually in the West Coast, New York, and Florida markets.