SPAIN/UK. AGS Airports shareholder Ferrovial – a leading global infrastructure operator – has announced plans to deploy a network of more than 25 vertiports in the UK.
The Spanish company said the move is part of its bid to lead the mobility of the future through the development of infrastructure for safe, high-speed, zero carbon aviation.
Vertiports will provide the infrastructure for landing, recharging, and the operation of all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet aircraft, such as those being developed by Ferrovial’s collaboration agreement partners Lilium and Vertical Aerospace.
The vertiport infrastructure will be integrated into communities and adapted to the surrounding environment, reducing noise impact and improving energy efficiency through innovative design.
International architecture practice Grimshaw and global engineering, management and development consultancy Mott MacDonald are partnering with Ferrovial to develop the design and engineering components of the vertiport infrastructure.
Ferrovial Vertiports CEO Kevin Cox said: “The partnership between vertiports and eVTOLs will provide high speed, affordable, emissions-free travel to millions of people. This network will boost local economies with a new model of regional connectivity.”
Ferrovial has over 20 years’ experience of investing, developing and operating in 33 airports around the world, including in the US, Australia and Chile. It currently has four airports in the United Kingdom. With the largest shareholder stake in Heathrow Airport, it is the airport’s core shareholder and industrial partner. In addition, it partly owns AGS Airports-operated Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.
The UK vertiports project announcement follows a recently announced agreement between Ferrovial and Lilium to develop a network of more than ten vertiports in Florida, US.
Read a recent interview with Urban-Air Port, a pioneer in the eVTOL infrastructure space, to learn more about this fast-rising aviation sector here.
