Vertical Aerospace has announced plans with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow Group to launch the UK’s first electric air-taxi routes between Canary Wharf and major transport hubs.
Proposed routes to and from Canary Wharf at launch would include Heathrow, Gatwick, Cambridge and Oxford.
The first phase, planned from Q1 2029, will focus on the UK’s highest-value mobility corridors, with propised routes operated by Bristow, cutting cut journey times compared with traditional ground travel.
For example, a typical Canary Wharf-to-Heathrow transfer would be 12 minutes instead of 60–90 minutes.
The collaboration seeks to bring together expertise from Skyports, Bristow Helicopters, NATS, Vertical Aerospace and Oxfordshire County Council, with the aim to accelerate urban air mobility (UAM) corridors.
Earlier this year, Bristow and Vertical also announced a Ready-to-Fly model providing turnkey access to aircraft, pilots, maintenance and insurance, alongside Bristow’s pre-order for up to 50 Valo aircraft, with options to purchase up to 50 more.
Vertical Aerospace CEO, Stuart Simpson, said: “Electric flight will transform how cities move, and London is one of the best places in the world to prove it.
“With Skyports and Bristow, we have the aircraft, infrastructure and operational strength to lead this market.
“These plans show the commercial potential of services we aim to see operating following regulatory approval in 2028 and we look forward to bringing them to life with our partners.”
