Embraer's Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions and Blade Air Mobility, a US technology-powered urban air mobility platform, have announced an arrangement for Eve to provide Blade with up to 60,000 hours of flight time per year on its eVTOL aircraft, also known in the market as EVA (electrical vertical aircraft), beginning in 2026 for use in southern Florida and west coast markets, subject to certain considerations.

Backed by Embraer's more than 50-year history of aircraft manufacturing and certification expertise, Eve has unveiled a unique value proposition by offering a suite of products and services. Eve's zero-emission and low noise EVA represents a simple and intuitive design that continues to reach development milestones, including the first flight of the engineering simulator in July 2020, and a proof of concept in October 2020. In parallel, Eve's urban air traffic management project reached a new milestone in its collaboration with the UK CAA to develop a scalable environment needed to host UAM flights.

“Blade is aligned with our mission as it has created a platform that provides the user seamless access to urban air mobility, and now with Eve to provide an experience that is quiet and without emissions. The company's platform will be instrumental in deploying our aircraft in key markets in south Florida and the west coast of the United States. This partnership with Blade is the next step in unlocking the future of mobility in these key areas and marks an exciting time for both companies,” says Andre Stein, president and CEO of Eve.

Eve plans to deploy, together with local partners, up to 60 aircraft for Blade's use throughout the US beginning in 2026. Blade will pay for flight time utilised on Eve's aircraft, which will be made available by Eve and other third parties. The deployment of Eve aircraft across the Blade network is subject to the parties entering into definitive final agreements.

“Blade is pleased to partner with Eve, leveraging Embraer's deep aerospace expertise to provide Blade with quiet, zero-carbon, electric aircraft,” concludes Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade. “Eve's aircraft provides ideal operating economics for Blade's shorter distance routes, adding to our three other recently announced EVA partnerships which, together, can optimise service for Blade's wide variety of mission profiles and regional hubs.”

Blade recently announced partnerships with Wisk, Beta Technologies and magniX.