Skyports tap CAAP for vertiports in LatAm

In order to plan the development and deployment of vertiport infrastructure for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) operations, Corporación América Airports S.A. (CAAP) and Skyports Infrastructure, the market-leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure provider, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In markets of shared interest, Skyports and Corporación América Airports will pool their unique technological and industry knowledge to exchange best practices for vertiport design concepts.

In addition to careful planning for the implementation of long-term vertiport infrastructure, the partnership will entail creating vertiport networks and operations for pertinent use cases. In order to prioritize sites based on market preparedness and potential, the firms will assess which Corporación América Airports’ assets are best suitable for vertiport implementation. A later stage of the agreement will determine the exact locations of potential vertiports.

The two companies’ collaboration fosters the creation of operationally crucial vertiport networks and represents a significant milestone in the development of the AAM sector in Latin America.

Addison Ferrell, Director, Skyports Infrastructure said: “We are proud to partner with Corporación América Airports to expand and stimulate the AAM ecosystem in key markets in Latin America. We’re at an incredibly exciting point in the industry’s development as we take concrete steps towards implementing a scalable vertiport network that will facilitate commercial eVTOL operations; this partnership will be instrumental to achieving those objectives. Bringing together CAAP’s proven airport leadership and Skyports’ deep expertise of AAM infrastructure will make for a compelling partnership.”

Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporación América Airports, commented: “As a leading airport concession operator, Corporación América Airports continues to build strong partnerships to position itself as an agent of change in the development of the Advance Air Mobility ecosystem. With over 20 years of expertise and operations in six countries across LatAm and Europe, we are firmly committed to continue building the future of this new way of transportation, which will be leaner, faster and more sustainable.” 

53 airports are currently run by Corporación América Airports in six nations around Europe and Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy). To facilitate the launch of eVTOL operations, the business announced partnerships with eVTOL vehicle manufacturers Eve Air Mobility, Vertical Aerospace (who are both partners with Skyports), Avolon, GOL, and Grupo Comporteto in June 2022.

The collaboration between Skyports Infrastructure and Corporación América Airports broadens Skyports’ reach in the region. With funding from investor Irelandia Aviation, which is also the majority shareholder of Colombia’s Viva Air, the company’s drone operations division, Skyports Drone Services, launched an ambitious beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone logistics operation in 2021 in the country’s remote regions of La Guajira and Chocó.