Skyports Infrastructure and airport operator Corporación América Airports (CAAP) have signed an MOU to plan the development and deployment of vertiport infrastructure for eVTOL operations in Latin America.

The collaboration will involve developing vertiport networks and operations and detailed planning for the deployment of permanent vertiport infrastructure. As part of these efforts, the companies will evaluate which of Corporación América Airports' assets are best suited for vertiport deployment, prioritising sites based on market readiness and opportunity. Location details for prospective vertiports will be confirmed at a later stage in the partnership.

The partnership between the two companies is an important step in the growth of the AAM industry in Latin America and supports the development of operationally critical vertiport networks.

Skyports director Addison Ferrell says: “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' expertise of AAM infrastructure will make for a compelling partnership.”

CAAP CEO Martin Eurnekian adds: “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 advanced air mobility ecosystem. With over 20 years of expertise and operations in six countries across Latin America 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.”

Corporación América Airports currently operates 53 airports in six countries across Latin America and Europe in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy. In June 2022, the company announced partnerships with Eve Air Mobility and Vertical Aerospace, both of which also partner with Skyports, Avolon, GOL and Grupo Comporteto to support the introduction of eVTOL operations.

Skyports Infrastructure's work with CAAP extends its presence in Latin America. In 2021, the company's drone operations arm, Skyports Drone Services, launched an ambitious beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone logistics operation in Colombia's remote regions of La Guajira and Chocó, backed by investor Irelandia Aviation, which is also a majority shareholder of Colombia's Viva Air.