UAV Embraer´s Eve and Kenya Airways announce UAM partnership

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by Embraer´s Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions and Kenya Airways PLC, flag-carrier airline of Kenya. The deal will be applied to Kenya Airways´ UAS division Fahari Aviation.

Aim of the new partnership is it, to explore new accessibility models for Urban Air Mobility operations within Fahari Aviation´s key markets. Additionally, the partnership will also establish a new foundation of concepts and procedures to scale eVTOL (electrical vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft.

Eve will collaborate with Fahari Aviation on the required Urban Air Traffic Management procedures and the needed environment for UAM operations. Especially in the markets in which Fahari operates in, a safe and secure UAS usage has to be guaranteed.

Part of the agreement will also be the implementation of Eve´s Electrical Vertical Aircraft (EVA) into Kenya Airways´ overall operations. Eve’s fully electric aircraft is designed to be accessible to all while being a community-friendly aircraft with a low noise signature and no emissions, stated Embraer.

Andre Stein, President & CEO of Eve, commented on the new partnership: “We are thrilled to partner with Kenya Airways to provide new forms of air mobility throughout the region for both people and goods. The creation of disruptive and widely accessible Urban Air Mobility solutions will help democratize mobility by making it more accessible, affordable and giving communities more options.”

Allan Kilavuka, Group Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways added: “Partnerships are vital in mapping out the future of our airline, something which the global crisis has reinforced. Innovation is a critical element of our long-term sustainability. Fahari Aviation is at the forefront of exploring advanced technologies, with a key focus in aviation, starting with drone technology. With this partnership, we look to develop innovative air mobility solutions for our clients in Kenya and throughout the region.”

Over the past months, Embraer was able to seal a number of partnerships with operators or aviation companies around the world to push its EVA program. The Brazilian manufacturer is a forerunner in the eVTOL segment and shows its commitment to further develop new sustainable solutions for the aviation of the future.