Revolutionizing Regional Air Mobility: Zero-Emission Lilium Jets to Connect Key Destinations Across the French Riviera, Including Monaco, Nice, Cannes, and Marseille
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb
Lilium, the German eVTOL (electronic Vertical Takeoff and Landing) jet developer, recently announced a partnership with Italian vertiport network operator UrbanV and Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur (ACA), manager of France’s second largest airport, Nice – Côte d’Azur, alongside Cannes Mandelieu airport and Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport, to bring eVTOL Lilium jet flights to the south of France beginning in 2026. This new network will span the French Riviera with key destinations throughout Southern France including Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Golfe de Saint-Tropez, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille.
This deal will leverage UrbanV’s existing infrastructure of vertiports in the region, including at Nice- Côte d’Azur, Cannes Mandelieu, and Golfe de Saint-Tropez, with additional destinations like Sophia Antipolis, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille to be serviced by future partners.
Offering a new transportation mode to the region, which already welcomes over 11 million visitors a year, represents an exciting opportunity for Lilium, who say their zero-emission, low-noise option provides a compelling alternative to a helicopter. UrbanV’s vertiports, designed and operated sustainably, add to the Lilium jet’s environmental advantage.
Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, said, “This collaboration with Lilium together with our subsidiary UrbanV marks an important step in the transformation and decarbonization of regional air mobility. Our territory offers a unique opportunity to fly over the sea to directly connect the main economic, cultural or tourist destinations. A complementary alternative to the helicopter, the eVTOL has its place in the air transport offered from Nice Côte d’Azur, laboratory of the airport of tomorrow, second platform in France and gateway to and exit from a landlocked territory.”
Carlo Tursi, CEO at UrbanV, commented, “At UrbanV, we aim to improve people’s lives by enabling a fast, efficient, safe, and clean alternative to existing transport solutions for people and goods over short distances, by air. We have the ambition to become a major global operator of vertiport networks and we will be global pioneers in establishing some of the first AAM routes worldwide. We are excited to partner with Lilium and Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, two global leaders in their respective fields, and we look forward to exploring together with them the great potential of introducing advanced air mobility in the French Riviera.”
Sebastien Borel, CCO of Lilium, added, “As a truly European company based in Munich, Germany, with flight testing in Spain and with nascent roots in France, Lilium is extremely proud to be able to assist in the creation of the first regional eVTOL network in the South of France and the first commercially viable network in the EU. We see an enormous potential in this region and cannot wait to see our Lilium Jet fly there soon.”
In other Lilium news in Europe, UK-based jet operator, eVolare, has signed a purchase agreement for 4 Lilium Jets, with an additional reservation of 12 jets. eVolare plans to operate Lilium Jets in the London area, connecting London with outer cities and the coastal areas of England.
Lilium has also announced an expanded partnership with Luxaviation Group, one of the largest business aircraft and helicopter operators worldwide, to create electrified ground infrastructure for the Lilium Jets. Starting in key European markets such as France, they also have sites planned for the Middle East.
More information on the Lilium jet and the new network in France is available here.
Read more:
- Lilium Expands Aerospace Operations into France
- UrbanLink Partners with Lilium to Integrate eVTOL Aircraft in South Florida
- AJW Group and Lilium Announce Strategic Collaboration for Global Material Services and Distribution
- Lilium Jet Becomes First eVTOL with Both EASA and FAA Certification Basis
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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