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RIYADH/SAUDIA ARABIA, 28 October 2022: SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, and Lilium NV (LILM), the developer of the first all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) jet, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the proposed development and operation of eVTOLs by SAUDIA across Saudi Arabia at the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII).
MENA’s first zero-emission airline
SAUDIA will become the first airline in the MENA region to purchase 100 Lilium Jets complete with yearly support services thanks to the planned contract.
The Lilium Jet will enable eco-friendly and efficient travel because it produces no pollutants during operation. With the procurement of 100 Lilium Jets, SAUDIA plans to introduce a cutting-edge service that will include brand-new electric point-to-point connections as well as seamless feeder links to SAUDIA’s hubs for business class passengers.
The flexible cabin architecture of Lilium Jet is anticipated to enable a variety of roomy interior configurations that are ideally suited to the needs of the premium market, and Lilium believes that this will assist drive the early adoption of eVTOL aircraft that is necessary to scale.
Approvals & agreements
Additionally, SAUDIA anticipates assisting Lilium with the certification of the Lilium Jet as well as any other essential regulatory clearances in Saudi Arabia. SAUDIA, the official flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, currently offers world-renowned service and hospitality to a network of more than 100 domestic and foreign destinations.
Lilium and SAUDIA intend to revolutionise the domestic air transport industry in the Kingdom by combining SAUDIA’s unmatched market expertise with Lilium’s distinctive eVTOL aircraft.
The parties must complete a feasibility study, agree on commercial terms, sign into binding agreements with respect to those agreements, and satisfy a number of other requirements before the proposed agreement between SAUDIA and Lilium will be implemented.
Comments
Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, Chief Executive Officer of SAUDIA said, “SAUDIA, building on its commitment to be an industry leading airline committed to sustainability, consider our eVTOL network project with Lilium to be an undertaking of great significance for the Kingdom’s aviation industry and will contribute effectively to spurring sustainable tourism in Saudi using zero-emission aviation.”
‘SAUDIA intends to meet a growing demand for regional air mobility and offer our valued Guests a superior on-board experience. The potential for such an airborne transit network is limitless,” Koshy added.
“We are thrilled to work with innovative partners for whom sustainability is a priority. This partnership with SAUDIA, our first in the Middle East, is an exciting development for Lilium. We look forward to working with SAUDIA to deploy an eVTOL network across Saudi Arabia,” said Alexander Asseily, Vice Chairman of Lilium.
