Turkey-based aviation conglomerate Gözen Holding has committed to purchase or lease up to 50 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon, with the option to purchase or lease up to 50 additional aircraft. As a result, Avolon has now placed its entire 500 VX4 eVTOL aircraft orderbook, and is oversubscribed by 50 options.

As part of the agreement Avolon, through its investment and innovation affiliate Avolon-e, has formed a strategic partnership with Gözen, the owner of Freebird Airlines, to commercialise zero emissions eVTOL travel and develop an industry leading urban air mobility (UAM) platform in Turkey. Avolon and Gözen Holding will collaborate in a working group to identify and target local partners and research potential market opportunities, as well as infrastructure and certification requirements for UAM. The partnership will allow Avolon to leverage Gözen Holding's expertise in airline operations, pilot training, airport handling and security, and airline representation as well as digital platforms, while Gözen will benefit from Avolon's deep industry expertise and global platform of UAM working groups, which are active in Brazil (with GOL), Greenland (with Air Greenland), Japan (with Japan Airlines) and southeast Asia (with AirAsia).

Avolon CEO Dómhnal Slattery says: “Today marks an important milestone on our eVTOL journey, as we have now fully placed our VX4 orderbook with some of the leading international airlines and aviation companies all over the world. The opportunities to deploy the VX4 are enormous and, as is evident with our placement progress to date zero emissions eVTOL air travel will reshape the short haul travel market. Our partnership with Gözen Holding will create a pioneer in UAM in Turkey, bringing sustainable air travel to the region. The strong demand for our VX4 orderbook and for zero emissions travel, confirms our view that demand for eVTOL aircraft would always outstrip supply. As a result, we will continue working with other partners that want to purchase or lease the VX4 in order to fully size the potential market and demand for this aircraft.”

Gözen CEO Mekin Gözen adds: “We are delighted to announce our partnership and VX4 order with Avolon. As an integral part of the Turkish aviation industry, we feel it is incumbent upon us to be at the forefront of the sustainability movement, and that is why we identified Avolon and Vertical's VX4 as the zero emissions eVTOL aircraft that will revolutionise air travel. With over 15 million people living in Istanbul, the city is consistently faced with congestion, which hinders both the city’s development and attractiveness as a tourist and business location. We strongly believe that the deployment of the VX4 will dramatically reshape Istanbul and the rest of Turkey. Our partnership with Avolon will see us create an eVTOL ecosystem in the country and is the first step in delivering sustainable air travel to the region, positioning it as a global leader.”

Vertical founder and CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick says: “We are delighted that Turkey has been added to the global destinations where the VX4 will fly. We look forward to welcoming Gözen into the Vertical family and continue to celebrate our growing partnership with Avolon."

The UAM market potential in Istanbul, Turkey and surrounding countries is significant. Istanbul has distant airports, traffic congestion and vast waterway networks. With over 50 million people using ferries or city boats every year, eVTOLs offer a faster, quieter and more sustainable form of travel. Istanbul's ancient and modern city presents compelling eVTOL use cases that the working group will explore.

In June 2021, Avolon ordered 500 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Vertical Aerospace, valued at US$2 billion. Since then it has placed 250 units with GOL and Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 aircraft with Japan Airlines in Japan, a minimum of 100 aircraft with AirAsia and now up to 100 aircraft with Gözen Holding.