Flynas, Eve Mobility set to unroll eVTOLs in Riyadh, Jeddah in 2026:Budget airliner Flynas signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brazilian electric aircraft maker Eve Air Mobility to explore the possibilities of deploying electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the kingdom, according to a statement last week. They will explore the possibility of kickstarting eVTOL operations in Riyadh and Jeddah in 2026, according to the statement.

What are eVTOLs again? These drone-like aircraft use electric propulsion and large omnidirectional fans to allow them to takeoff vertically, making them energy efficient, quiet, environmentally friendly, and eventually pilotless. Beyond their use as air taxis, the vehicles are expected to be able to operate on an inter-city basis and even be used for cargo shipping.

Eve wants to be a pioneer in the sector: Eve Air Mobility signed letters of intent during the Paris Air Show in June to sell 150 of its eVTOLS to Nordic Aviation, Wideroe Zero, and Voar Aviation.

REMEMBER- eVTOLs have been gaining steam in the kingdom: In June, Neom and German flying taxi maker Volocopter said they have successfully tested the kingdom’s first electric air taxi.The flight test campaign of the electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) ran for a week after 18 months of collaboration between Neom, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, and Volocopter to implement an electric urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem and testbed at Neom. The testing came months after Neom said it was investing USD 175 mn in Volocopter last year as part of a plan to roll out an advanced air mobility industry in the kingdom.

IN OTHER FLYNAS NEWS-Flynas has launched a new operations base at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, and inaugurated six new destinations, including Dubai, Ankara, Amman and Istanbul, according to a statement. The airline also launched its first direct flight between Jeddah and Brussels, it announced in a statement earlier this week. The budget airliner is set to operate three weekly flights to the destination, it added.

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