Halo has become the launch customer for Embraer’s Eve urban air mobility vehicle with an order for 200 aircraft.

The order follows the alignment of US and UK-based helicopter travel operator Halo Aviation and Associated Aircraft Group under the Halo brand, which will become the first global provider for private urban air mobility. Both companies were acquired earlier this year by OneSky Flight, a member of the Directional Aviation family.

Eve is an independent company formed by Embraer SA. The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has an expected delivery date in 2026. The order will be divided with 100 of the vehicles used for operations in the United States and the other 100 operational in the United Kingdom. Halo will provide streamlined travel experiences for the clients of sister companies in the Directional Aviation family of brands: Flexjet, Sentient Jet, PrivateFly and FXAIR.

“Breakthrough in urban air mobility”

Kenneth C Ricci, Principal of Directional Aviation said: “Bringing together two companies, which are leading providers of vertical lift and urban mobility services in two of the most important markets, will create a phenomenal vertical mobility platform. And in placing this order for a revolutionary breakthrough in urban air mobility, we are advancing toward safe, efficient and sustainable travel in and between our cities. eVTOL urban air mobility is the greatest opportunity, and the greatest challenge, I have seen in my 40 years in aviation, and Eve is positioned to make it a reality.”

Andrew Collins will be leading the vertical lift transition for One Sky. He said: “Where private aviation was previously thought of in terms of moving people from airport to airport, today’s travel is becoming a doorstep-to-doorstep concept. With the Halo and AAG leadership team’s core competency, we are particularly well-positioned to create that new reality better than any other provider. We are on the cusp of global aviation innovations that you can’t even imagine.”

Nearly a dozen eVTOL aircraft designs were evaluated before Halo selected Eve as its launch product. Ricci said several elements were assessed: “We believe Eve has designed an aircraft that not only is well-prepared for initial certification but also has a proven track record of production. The outstanding lineage of aircraft design, certification and production that Embraer brings to this aircraft positions Eve with significant advantages in the competitive landscape. And our background as operators has taught us that product support is absolutely vital to the overall success of new programmes. The relationship between Embraer and Eve will create one of the most successful global product support infrastructures in the industry. Finally, the work that Eve and Embraer have completed around their traffic management system is just one more example of how uniquely positioned Eve is to help us deliver on our vision.”

Deliveries to begin in 2026

Deliveries of the Eve aircraft will begin in 2026. Until then, Halo will continue to operate its Leonardo and Sikorsky helicopters as the eVTOL aircraft are phased into service. Andre Stein, President and CEO of Eve Urban Air Mobility said: “This partnership is an important step for Eve to assume its position as a global leader in the UAM industry. We are ready to build the future of mobility with our partners in an extremely collaborative way. Halo is aligned with our mission to create comprehensive urban air mobility solutions, and this order marks an important milestone for Eve in key markets. We are confident that this mutually beneficial relationship will have a positive impact for many future users and enable both companies to grow their businesses exponentially.”

Eve is working with Embraer and Atech, a subsidiary of the Embraer Group, to develop an Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) system that will set the standard for safety, efficiency and performance. The UAM manufacturer will also be advancing vertical lift in the UK through its leadership of a consortium which is clearing regulatory and operational issues to bringing eVTOL operations to London. Eve and Halo will work together with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and US regulators to advance the first international eVTOL operator partnership of its kind to create an urban air mobility ecosystem.