News

NEOM And Volocopter Partner To Create World’s First Bespoke Public eVTOL Mobility System

These first eVTOL aircraft will connect NEOM’s core urban development, called the Line, with other regional destinations.

Published

3 years ago

December 10, 2021

David Morelo

Volocopter

The concept of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft should be familiar to all fans of sci-fi literature, movies, and video games.

Because of their ability to take off and land vertically, such aircraft are suited for operation in densely populated urban areas that would easily trap even small airplanes. Since eVTOL aircraft rely on electric propulsion, they generate much less noise pollution compared with traditional helicopters.

Now, Volocopter, a German eVTOL aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal has established a joint venture (JV) company with NEOM, a planned smart city in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia that aims to realize a daring vision of what the future could be.

neom partnership with volocopter

The goal of the new company is to design, implement, and operate the world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in NEOM. Once operational, the system will provide air taxi and logistics services and integrate with the rest of NEOM’s multi-modal and zero-emissions public mobility system.

“We are incredibly excited and proud to partner with Volocopter to make vertical mobility a reality here at NEOM. Volocopter is internationally recognized for leading innovation in the eVTOL industry and is a perfect match for our ambitious goals to create the first truly sustainable, shared, and seamlessly integrated mobility system in the world” said Florian Lennert, Head of Mobility, NEOM.

The JV has so far ordered 10 VoloCity passenger and 5 VoloDrone logistics aircraft from Volocopter, and plans are already in place to scale up activities from the beginning of 2022.

These first eVTOL aircraft will connect NEOM’s core urban development, called the Line, with other regional destinations. The Line is supposed to be a 170 km long linear city without conventional cars, and it will be home to over 1 million citizens when finished.

News

Qatar Airways Debuts World’s First Boeing 777 Starlink Flight

The airline has ambitious plans to roll out the high-speed, low-latency service across its entire Boeing 777 fleet within a year.

Published

13 hours ago

October 23, 2024

Nour Nasir

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has taken a significant step ahead of the competition by being the first operator to offer Starlink internet on a Boeing 777 aircraft traveling from Doha to London.

As the largest and first airline in the MENA region to offer Starlink’s ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet, Qatar Airways continues to raise the bar for in-flight services after winning the coveted Skytrax “World’s Best Airline” for 2024 award.

Initially, the carrier planned to outfit three Boeing 777 aircraft with Starlink technology. However, by the end of 2024, the airline will have upgraded 12 Boeing 777-300s with this service. Further ahead, the entire Boeing 777 fleet is set to be Starlink-equipped by 2025, one year earlier than originally scheduled, with the Airbus A350 fleet following suit by mid-2025.

This rollout demonstrates Qatar Airways’ dedication to enhancing in-flight connectivity and will enable passengers to stay in touch with family and friends, stream media, watch live sports, work remotely, and even play online games — all at 35,000 feet.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer expressed excitement about the debut flight, stating: “We are thrilled to launch our first Starlink-equipped flight, proving once again why Qatar Airways is at the forefront of the aviation industry”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

He continued, “Paired with our commitment to rapidly rollout Starlink across our entire modern fleet, [Qatar Airways] demonstrates our relentless pursuit of offering passengers an in-flight experience that transcends the constraints of traditional air travel”.

By launching its first Starlink-equipped aircraft, Qatar Airways has achieved several milestones, including operating the world’s first Boeing 777 widebody with the service onboard. Qatar Airways’ strategic partnership with SpaceX ensures passengers will continue to enjoy an unmatched in-flight experience, and not only represents a breakthrough for Qatar Airways but also sets a new standard for in-flight connectivity globally.