Video: Vertical Aerospace races toward air taxi launch

Vertical Aerospace, the UK-based electric aviation company backed by American Airlines, Honeywell, and Rolls-Royce, is accelerating efforts to bring flying taxis to market. 

CEO Stuart Simpson says their flagship VX4 aircraft could be the first step toward creating “highways in the sky.”

The all-electric VX4 is designed to cruise at 150 mph (241 km/h) and fly up to 100 miles (160 km) per charge, targeting business-class passengers commuting to and from international flights. It's also developing a hybrid air taxi with a range of up to 1,000km 

Initial fares: $2 per km per seat

Initial fares may hover around $2 per kilometer per seat — similar to Uber Black rates — though final pricing will be up to airlines.

The company, which initially targeted full certification by 2026, has pushed back its deadline for its VX4 aircraft as it undergoes certification under strict UK and EU aviation standards (UK CAA/EASA SC-VTOL).

It is now expected to debut first in the UK by mid-2028, then expand to the US within six months. 

Competitors like Archer Aviation (partnered with United Airlines) and Joby Aviation (working with Delta and Uber) are eyeing earlier launches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and New York between 2025 and 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

$8 billion aircraft orders

So far, Vertical Aerospace has secured $7 to $8 billion in aircraft orders, including 350 units from American Airlines, and others from Japan Airlines and AirAsia.

Vertical has a capital-light OEM model, top-tier aerospace partners, and a premium cabin with four business-class seats, 70 pounds of luggage capacity per passenger, and a pilot-passenger barrier for added safety.

Hybrid eVTOL

The company is also developing a hybrid version with a 1,000-mile range and a 60,000-pound payload, aimed at defense markets.

Vertical also announced the development of a hybrid-electric VTOL variant with a 1,000-mile range, targeting new high-value markets such as defense, logistics, and broader commercial applications. 

Investments

With about $2.5 billion in total investment now flowing into the eVTOL sector, Simpson says the infrastructure, regulation, and belief in the technology are finally converging: “It’s all coming to pass now.”

As global urban congestion worsens, Simpson sees electric aircraft as a practical solution: “You can’t build more roads or tunnels, but you can open up the sky.”

In November, Vertical performed a successful untethered crewed flight, advancing the company’s aim towards UK and European certification.

Five Eyes network

Vertical could benefit from "Five Eyes network", in which aviation authorities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have made a landmark move to align their certification process for "air taxis", also known as vertical take-off and landing vehicles (VTOL), or advanced air mobility (AAM).

The move marks a historic step for the future of flying: VTOLs form a whole new class of aircraft.

The company recently marked a historic milestone with the first-ever piloted wing-borne flight of a winged eVTOL aircraft in open airspace in Europe, demonstrating controlled flight and opening the path toward commercial deployment.

In May 2025, Vertical Aerospace announced it had successfully completed the landmark VX4 prototype flight from Cotswold Airport, UK. 

Piloted by Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, the aircraft took off, flew, and landed like a conventional plane, generating lift through its wings rather than relying solely on vertical thrust. 

This flight was approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after a rigorous safety and technical review, underscoring the regulatory confidence in the VX4’s design and safety.

Simpson described the flight as a “transformational” moment in the company’s certification journey, emphasising that operating under the UK’s strict regulatory framework provides a clearer and faster path to type certification. 

Piloted transition

The successful wing-borne flight is a critical step toward the next major milestone: a full piloted transition flight planned for the second half of 2025. This upcoming test will demonstrate the VX4’s ability to seamlessly shift between vertical lift and forward cruise, the key operational mode for passenger service.

Alongside flight testing progress, Vertical Aerospace is expanding its technical and commercial capabilities. 

Third prototype

To support its expanding flight test programme, Vertical has doubled its flight testing capabilities by delivering a third full-scale VX4 prototype to its Flight Test Center. 

The company also bolstered its test pilot team by appointing Paul Stone, former Chief Test Pilot at Volocopter, making Vertical one of the few eVTOL companies with multiple pilots experienced in flying full-scale eVTOL aircraft.

Financials

Vertical Aerospace maintains strong capital efficiency with cash and cash equivalents of £69 million ($89 million) as of March 31, 2025, sufficient to fund operations into the fourth quarter of the year. 

The company expects net operating cash outflows for 2025 to remain in the range of £90 million to £100 million ($110 million to $125 million), primarily supporting VX4 assembly and testing.

Shareholders meeting

Vertical Aerospace has scheduled its Annual General Meeting for August 5, 2025, at its Bristol headquarters, where shareholders will consider key proposals.

With regulatory approvals progressing and innovative hybrid-electric variants in development, Vertical Aerospace is positioning itself at the forefront of the emerging electric aviation industry.