Global Crossing Airlines Group, which operates the Miami-based airline GlobalX, has created UrbanX Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary to pioneer the integration of urban air mobility in south Florida. GlobalX chairman and CEO Ed Wegel, an aviation industry veteran, has appointed Lucy Morillo as president and CEO.

Morillo, an attorney, community leader and serial entrepreneur with decades of executive experience in the business, private equity and non-profit sectors, will lead UrbanX's launch and further develop the UAM ecosystem in south Florida. With this appointment, she becomes one of the few Hispanic female CEOs in the aviation and UAM space. She is a member of the Wings Club; the Florida Department of Transportation AAM Advisory Committee; the International Aviation Women's Association; and Eve's Air Mobility Advisory Board.

Morillo is working with local and state officials, infrastructure, energy and technology providers to ensure the appropriate framework is in place. For the past three decades, she has established herself as a trusted member of the C-suite by building stakeholder engagement, fostering cross-functional relationships, enhancing corporate culture and managing risk in a fast-paced growth environment.

"We are delighted to have Lucy at the helm of UrbanX," says Wegel. "She brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm from a range of industries, with a proven track record of building stakeholder engagement and leading campaigns in many sectors."

GlobalX, a Part 121 US flag and supplemental airline with more than 600 aviation professionals, will assist Morillo and UrbanX in developing and operating the UAM market . In 2022, the company signed a letter of intent to purchase 200 eVTOL aircraft from Eve; delivery of the first is expected in 2026. GlobalX's expertise as a flag airline will contribute not only to the formulation of the infrastructure needed to permit eVTOL flights, but also the deployment of Eve's aircraft at Miami International and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International airports, as well as local flying within Key West and all of the Keys, Naples and Palm Beach.

Morillo is committed to operating UrbanX under a social enterprise business model, working in conjunction with local governments to ensure the service offered benefits not only the passengers but the surrounding communities.

"I am honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to bring accessible air transportation to the south Florida region," she says. "In coordination with Miami-Dade County and other local stakeholders, we will forge meaningful collaborations through a public-private partnership to ensure this cutting-edge technology lifts the entire community."