United Airlines is to invest US$15 million in Eve Air Mobility, a start-up company dedicated to accelerating the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem. The investment includes a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seat electric aircraft and an option for 200 more. The first delivery is expected as early as 2026. 

This marks another significant investment by the airline in flying taxis – or electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles– which have the potential to revolutionise the commuter experience in cities around the world. Last month, the airline gave a US$10 million deposit to a California-based eVTOL company for 100 aircraft.

"United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation," said President of United Airlines Ventures, Michael Leskinen. 

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies intend to work on future projects, including studies on the development, use and application of Eve's aircraft and the UAM ecosystem. The consortium, led by Eve, carried out ground-testing simulations of the eVTOL system on Monday, September 12, with passenger flight simulations starting on Wednesday.  

Eve CEO, André Stein, said: "Simulating the eVTOL operation in Chicago allows us to study how people will experience this service and understand the entire ecosystem requirements for our product and services, while showcasing the benefit of UAM in one of North America's most prominent and populated cities.”

With a range of 100km, the aircraft have the potential not only to offer a sustainable commute but also to reduce noise levels by 90% compared with current conventional aircraft. Eve is also creating a new air traffic management solution designed for the UAM industry, which is set to lay a blueprint for how the new transport medium will be incorporated into the transport sector.