Beating Manila traffic? Soon you can try VTOL flight with Lilium jets

Manila: Want to beat traffic in Manila, currently ranked the “worst in the world”?

Fret not. Electric planemaker Lilium Air Mobility offers a potential solution. The German company Lilium GmbH is considering launching its first Southeast Asia operation network in the Philippines for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jets.

And for those who fly in its vertical take-off and landing aircraft, its air taxi is also considered an eco-friendly commute.

The German aerospace company is one of the leading makers of eVTOL vehicles. The Lilium Jet is a battery-powered personal air vehicle powered by 36 ducted fans capable of VTOL flight. It has a range of 250+ km (155+ miles) and a cruising speed of 280 km/h (175 mph).

At the Singapore Airshow, Lilium and PhilJets is expected to sign an MOU for a strategic collaboration to introduce eVTOLs to the Philippines and ASEAN, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Lilium's chief commercial officer, Sebastien Borel, said the Philippines is an ideal location due to its numerous islands and high-speed air mobility potential.

10 Lilium jets

PhilJets plans to purchase 10 Lilium jets initially, aiming to transform mobility and reduce carbon emissions in the Philippines.

The partnership will also involve joint route planning, identifying landing infrastructure, and exploring potential vertiport locations in the region.

The Philippines is showcasing its aviation capabilities at the 2024 Singapore Airshow, sponsored by various organisations under the theme “One PH Aviation: Together We Fly”.

The German air taxi developer plans to set up industrial capacity to make some 400 of its electrically powered Lilium Jet flying shuttles a year, while tapping schemes that provide public research support, its new chief executive told Reuters in 2022.