Regular travelers from the city of New York They could stop planning their trips hours in advance thanks to Valo, a new electric air taxi service in development which promises to transport passengers to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and other airports in just seven minutes.
The all-electric aircraft Vertical Aerospace prepares to land in New York as part of ambitious plan to introduce fast, low-emission air travel to the region. In collaboration with Bristow Group and Skyports Infrastructurethe company seeks to create routes that drastically reduce travel times between Manhattan and major airports. Valo was presented in New York last month at the Classic Car Clubfollowing its global launch in London in December, and is expected to receive regulatory approval in 2028.
With its emission-free flight, low noise levels, fast journeys and safety standards equivalent to those of commercial aircraft, Valo offers a preview of what high-speed urban mobility could look like. According to the company, New Yorkers could be using electric air taxis by 2028, arriving at the airport “in the time it takes to have a cup of coffee.”
A “new dawn in transportation”
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospacedescribed Valo as a turning point for electric aviation. “Valo is the aircraft that makes electric flight a commercial reality: clean, quiet, fast and designed for everyday service. It marks a new dawn in transportation, one that will connect people in minutes, not hours,” he told Newsweek.
Domhnal Slatterypresident of the company, called the aircraft “bigger, safer and more capable” than any other currently available, noting that it combines precision engineering, passenger-centered design and collaboration with global aerospace partners.
Simpson added that the US presentation seeks to build on the momentum generated after its launch in London, considering New York “a natural next step to explore how electric aviation could support urban and regional travel in the United States.”
Minute trips between Manhattan and airports
Vertical Aerospace plans to use existing heliports such as Downtown Manhattan Heliport to dramatically reduce transfer times. According to the company, Valo could connect Manhattan to JFK, Newark Airport and Teterboro Airport in just seven minutes, and to East Hampton Airport in 42 minutes. Other uses include event transfers, sightseeing flights, leisure travel and emergency services.
More economical and quieter than a helicopter
Valo is fully electric, quiet and “much cheaper” to operate than helicopters, which require more space to take off and land and generate pollution and noise.. The cabin has four seats, panoramic windows, luggage space and a cabin divider for greater security. The design allows for expansion to six seats to improve profitability and reduce fares. Valo can fly up to 100 miles at speeds up to 150 mph with no operating emissions, with an estimated operating cost of around $2 per mile per passenger, comparable to the price of an Uber Comfort or Luxe/Black.
Certification and security
According to the company, Valo is certified to the same safety standard as commercial aircraft, ensuring passengers are as safe as on an American Airlines flight from New York to London. The aircraft will operate under the brand of associated airlines and operators, not the Vertical Aerospace brand.
The company has orders from Bristow Group, considered “the world’s leading helicopter operator,” and ensures that Valo will be the only eVTOL aircraft certified to the highest global safety standard, allowing it to operate internationally and obtain FAA approval in the United States. Following certification, expansion will be driven by alliances with airlines and operators, including American Airlines and Bristow, consolidating its presence in New York and exploring new routes.