SkyDrive has signed a collaboration agreement with West Nippon Expressway Company (NEXCO West) to analyze the commercial viability of advanced air mobility services using eVTOL aircraft in Japan.

The agreement includes a study of using highway service areas and parking lots as potential locations for vertiports, which would integrate air transport with existing road infrastructure. These areas, distributed every 10 to 30 kilometers, could become strategic points for the deployment of next-generation air services.

The initiative seeks to generate added value for users through new options such as sightseeing flights, while also boosting regional economic development. In the long term, the connection between highway networks and air mobility hubs could strengthen connectivity in different areas of the country.

Furthermore, both companies highlight the potential of these aircraft to improve disaster response, enabling rapid aerial assessments and facilitating decision-making in emergency situations.

This agreement aligns with SkyDrive’s goal of launching commercial eVTOL operations by 2028, following its recent demonstration flights in Osaka and Tokyo. NEXCO West, for its part, integrates this initiative into its “MOVE!2030” strategy, focused on innovation and the sustainable development of communities.

With this step, Japan continues to explore integration models between ground infrastructure and advanced air mobility, in a context where connectivity, resilience, and technological innovation are key factors.

Source: SkyDrive