Brazil-based charter flight reservation platform Flapper has signed a letter of intent with Jaunt Air Mobility for the purchase of up to 25 Jaunt Journey eVTOL aircraft, to grow Flapper's on demand UAM fleet in Latin American markets.

The two companies plan to service several vital markets across Latin America, including Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, Bogota, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. By partnering with Jaunt, Flapper aims to bring a new form of urban travel with safety and operational efficiency as the top priority. Together, they expect to help usher in a new era of transportation in Latin America.

Flapper CEO Paul Malicki says: "After a thorough examination of the existing urban air mobility architectures, we found Jaunt's fixed wing and slowed rotor design to be one of the most efficient and safest aircraft ever projected. Jaunt Journey's technology boasts performance similar to fixed wing design, which is perfect, considering the region's short runways, rocky shores and high altitude airports."

"We are pleased to partner with Flapper to introduce a new form of urban travel in Latin American cities," adds Jaunt COO Simon Briceno. "Its reputation and experience in the on demand charter service are well-known, and it has a real understanding of the growth opportunity of our zero-emission vehicles."

The Jaunt Journey air taxi combines helicopter and fixed wing flight capabilities, highlighting low noise, comfort, safety and operational efficiencies. The company is one of the only eVTOL players aligned with current transport category certification rules.

"The Jaunt Journey has significant design features that allow it to fly in a variety of weather conditions," says CEO/CTO Martin Peryea. "A single main rotor is the most efficient form for take off and landing and has proven capabilities in gusty wind conditions in places such as coastlines. The aircraft offers a higher level of safety than today's helicopters."

The deployment of Jaunt Journey aircraft into the Flapper network is subject to the parties entering into definitive final agreements.

Towards the end of last year, Flapper signed purchase commitments for 15 Electra.aero eight seat, fixed wing, uSTOL aircraft, with an option for 15 more. It agreed to buy 20 magniX EPUs to convert its Cessna Caravan charter fleet to electric power over the next couple of years, and has opened its platform up to Eve for a one month test of the UAM ecosystem in Rio. Helicopters have been performing six daily flights between airport and vertiport, with a view to transition to short passenger flights in the all-electric EVA aircraft by 2026.

Flapper draws together a fleet of more than 900 certified aircraft currently comprising more than 80 different types of jets, turboprops and helicopters.