AAM infrastructure developer Skyports Infrastructure and airline operator AirAsia's Advanced Air Mobility have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to explore the development of air taxi infrastructure in Malaysia.

The one year partnership is an important next step in establishing a fully operational vertiport network in the country. As the industry matures, partnerships between traditional aviation players and AAM specialists are essential in developing a practical, well-studied and well-integrated network of vertiports.

AirAsia is actively involved in the operationalisation of AAM in Malaysia. In the past year alone, the company said it plans to lease 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon, launched its drone training programme and most recently extended drone-related training to the high-technology related sectors.

Leveraging the strengths of both parties, the partnership will draw on AirAsia's aviation expertise and experience, as well as its on-ground market knowledge and networks, while Skyports brings to the table its global portfolio of designing and building take off and landing infrastructure for eVTOL passenger aircraft. Skyports' work is also instrumental in advancing regulatory development across markets through close collaboration with local regulatory bodies and standards-setting organisations.

Initial assessments will prioritise Kuala Lumpur, and will focus on joint feasibility studies for the integration of air taxi vertiport infrastructure, the identification of potential vertiport sites, and the development of operational requirements and frameworks to ultimately implement a vertiport network in Malaysia.

AirAsia Aviation Group chief safety officer and head of advanced air mobility Captain Ling Liong Tien says: “Following the announcement of our venture into the urban air taxi service earlier this year, we have been working around the clock to explore its feasibility in Malaysia. This partnership with Skyports will accelerate the review of the infrastructure including vertical take off and landing platforms in the country as well as strengthen our potential as a zero emissions ultra-short haul air travel provider in southeast Asia.

“AirAsia has revolutionised commercial air travel for the past two decades, and we look forward to working with Skyports, which will put us ahead of the curve and shape the future of autonomous aviation in the region.”

Skyports head of Asia Pacific Yun-Yuan Tay adds: “We are excited to be partnering with AirAsia, a powerhouse airline operator that brings great synergy to our work at Skyports. This partnership highlights the steady progress of AAM development and interest in Malaysia and the wider APAC region. With innovative and forward-looking partners like AirAsia, we will be able to take concrete steps towards the realisation of a safe, efficient and fully-integrated air taxi network that brings real benefits to the people and communities it serves.”

A pioneer in the burgeoning AAM industry, Skyports Infrastructure has a diverse portfolio of projects across major cities, including Paris, London and Los Angeles. Within the Asia Pacific region, the company has made steady progress, with ongoing partnerships to assess and develop AAM infrastructure in neighbouring Singapore and Japan.