Urban Air Port (UAP) has secured funding from Supernal to develop 200 vertiport sites globally in the next five years to support advanced air mobility (AAM).
UAP, a UK-based start-up, says its vertiport sites will provide essential infrastructure to help enable mass adoption of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, such as cargo drones and air taxis.
The investment from Supernal – previously the urban air mobility division of Hyundai – is expected to support the development of vertiport models like the CityBox delivery drone hub.
UAP founder Ricky Sandhu says: “Despite the unparalleled potential of eVTOL aircraft to revolutionise mobility, the importance of the ground infrastructure that enables them is too often overlooked. With Supernal’s investment and expertise and connection to Hyundai Motor Group, we can supercharge the rollout of sustainable, intermodal and scalable ground infrastructure that will unleash the future of advanced air mobility globally.”
Supernal CEO Jaiwon Shin says: “We are pleased to continue working with Urban-Air Port and support its efforts to create ground infrastructure that works seamlessly with eVTOLs and integrates the advanced air mobility industry with existing modes of transportation.”
An operational hub for eVTOLs called Air-One will open to the public in Coventry City Centre in April.
According to UAP, the demonstration will show how AAM can help unlock the potential of sustainable mobility and how the industry will work to help reduce congestion, cut air pollution and decarbonise transport.