Vertical Aerospace has launched its US tour in New York City, bringing its new commercial electric aircraft, the Valo, to the US for the first time alongside plans for electric air travel routes in New York with Bristow Group and Skyports Infrastructure.

The tour builds on the Valo's unveiling in London in December 2025 and marks the next step in Vertical's global engagement with customers, investors, regulators and partners ahead of entry into service following regulatory approval, which is currently expected in 2028.

The Valo is Vertical's certification-ready aircraft, designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions and engineered to meet airliner-level safety standards. Valo's premium cabin will launch with four seats, offering panoramic windows, generous personal space and class-leading luggage capacity. The aircraft's flexible design, shaped by extensive airline and operator input, enables expansion to six seats, with the potential to improve operator economics and lower fares for passengers.

The aircraft is targeting certification in 2028, enabling entry into service in the US and globally with airline and operator customers including American Airlines. Valo's arrival in New York marks the first opportunity for investors, customers, partners and the public to experience the aircraft at full scale.

Alongside the tour, Vertical is working with helicopter operator Bristow and vertiport developer Skyports on a range of future mobility solutions for the Valo in the US, including routes in and out of Manhattan, New York. The plans will cut multi-hour road journeys to minutes, such as flying from John F. Kennedy and other airports to Manhattan.

Informed by Bristow's global operating experience as the world's leading provider of helicopter transportation and Skyports' established skyport locations, including its Downtown Skyport in Manhattan, the plans focus on operational feasibility, infrastructure integration and real-world use cases. New York City represents a natural environment for advanced air mobility given its density, congestion, premium travel demand and existing heliport network.

Use cases being progressed in the New York City area include: airport transfers – connections between Downtown Skyport and major regional airports, significantly reducing journey times for travellers, such as connecting JFK to Manhattan in minutes; event travel – game-day access from Downtown Skyport to MetLife Stadium, potentially via established aviation facilities such as Teterboro airport; aerial sightseeing and air tours – departing from Downtown skyport, taking advantage of Valo's large cabin, panoramic windows and quiet, zero-emissions operation; weekend and leisure travel – connections between Downtown skyport and East Hampton airport, supporting premium short-break travel; cross-town urban transfers: links between Downtown skyport and heliports such as West 30th Street or East 40th Street, offering a quieter, lower-emissions alternative to conventional helicopters; and emergency services – medical transfers within New York area, such as Westchester County Medical Center to New York University Langone.

This work builds on Vertical's recent UK collaboration with Bristow and Skyports, which outlines planned electric air-taxi routes from London's Canary Wharf to major UK transport hubs, including London Heathrow airport, and demonstrates how electric aviation will be integrated safely and practically into existing urban infrastructure.

The aircraft will be on public display at the Classic Car Club Manhattan. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the Valo at full scale and learn more about Vertical's aircraft, technology and certification journey. No tickets are required.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, says: “The US Valo tour builds on the momentum from our London unveiling and a year of strong execution across testing, partnerships and certification. New York is a natural next step to explore how electric aviation could support urban and regional travel in the US, working with partners like Bristow and Skyports to keep safety, certification and real-world operations at the core.”

Chris Bradshaw, president and CEO of Bristow Group, adds: “Bristow operates complex aviation services all over the world, from offshore energy to government and passenger transport. Exploring future eVTOL use cases in a market like New York allows us to apply that operational experience to new, sustainable aviation concepts as the technology and regulatory environment continue to mature.”

Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports Infrastructure, concludes: “Skyports creates and operates the essential infrastructure that will support the integration of new eVTOL aircraft into existing cities and transport networks. Evaluating potential use cases around Downtown Skyport helps demonstrate how our infrastructure could support a wide range of journeys, from airports and events to leisure and urban connections, as electric aviation develops.”