Singapore Airshow: Vertical advances air taxi plans with Japan routes and Singapore medical trials
February 4, 2026
Vertical Aerospace has unveiled two Asia-focused initiatives at the Singapore Airshow, underlining how electric air taxis could move beyond demonstration flights and into practical, scalable operations across healthcare, mobility and premium regional travel.
The announcements highlight progress in Japan, where Vertical is working with trading and investment group Marubeni Corporation on future commercial air taxi routes, and in Singapore, where the company has secured government backing to trial emergency medical services (EMS) missions using its Valo aircraft platform.
The initiatives position Asia as a key early adopter region for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), with a focus on real-world use cases rather than purely experimental operations.
Japan electric air taxi routes target commercial operations from 2026
In Japan, Vertical and Marubeni are progressing plans for a scalable AAM route network, with early focus on the Kansai region. One proposed corridor could reduce journey times by up to 80% compared with ground transport, according to the companies.
Plans include piloted demonstration flights in the Osaka Bay area, targeted for 2026, as a step towards commercial deployment. Potential use cases under evaluation range from premium tourism and major event transport to airport shuttle services and time-critical logistics and medical support.
The work builds on Marubeni’s conditional pre-order for 200 Valo aircraft, with pre-delivery payments already made to secure early delivery slots for the first 25 aircraft. Vertical said the partnership reflects growing confidence in the programme’s technical and regulatory maturity.
Japan’s regulator, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, accepted Vertical into its type validation programme in 2023. Vertical is targeting type certification for Valo with the UK Civil Aviation Authority in 2028, followed by Japanese validation.
“Japan combines strong regulatory leadership, advanced infrastructure and trusted industrial partners, making it one of the most promising markets globally for Advanced Air Mobility,” said Stuart Simpson, chief executive of Vertical Aerospace.
Singapore supports eVTOL emergency medical services trials
Separately, Vertical has been awarded a proof-of-concept grant in Singapore to develop and validate emergency medical services missions using electric and hybrid-electric aircraft.
The company was selected as a winner of the Dimension X Cohort 7 Challenge, run by Hatch, an innovation centre of Singapore’s Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX). The project will focus on how eVTOL and VTOL aircraft could support time-critical medical response for remote island communities around Singapore.
Under the programme, Vertical will work with public-sector stakeholders to develop a detailed EMS concept of operations, assess medical cabin configurations, and conduct a proof-of-concept flight demonstration. Flight testing is planned for the second half of 2026, with the project running through April 2026.
The initiative aligns with Singapore’s wider AAM strategy, led by the Economic Development Board and supported by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, aimed at enabling the safe introduction of next-generation aircraft and building a regional AAM ecosystem.
“We are proud to work closely with Singapore’s public-sector safety and security experts to explore how electric and hybrid-electric aircraft could support emergency response operations safely and effectively,” Simpson said.
Advanced Air Mobility in Asia moves from demonstrations to deployment
Vertical said the Japan and Singapore projects reflect a deliberate shift towards operationally credible AAM missions, grounded in certification progress, regulatory engagement and public acceptance.
Valo, the company’s certification aircraft, is designed to fly up to 160 km at speeds of up to 240 km/h, with zero operating emissions in its all-electric configuration. A hybrid-electric variant is also in development to provide greater range and mission flexibility.
As airlines, governments and regulators look beyond demonstrations, Vertical’s Asia-focused initiatives suggest that electric air taxis may be edging closer to practical deployment, particularly in regions willing to pair innovation with regulatory leadership.
Featured image: Vertical Aerospace
