Lilium, a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has partnered with UrbanLink, a new advanced air mobility operator, to launch electric air taxi services in South Florida.
UrbanLink aims to become the first US airline to fully integrate eVTOL aircraft into its fleet, purchasing 20 Lilium Jets with pre-delivery payments. The partnership also leverages a network of vertiports developed by Lilium and its collaborators over the past five years, providing the infrastructure needed for launch.
Looking towards 2026, UrbanLink plans to utilize these electric air taxis to connect major cities in South Florida, including Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale, with service extending to Marco Island.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
