Embraer's Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions (or just Eve for short) has secured yet another customer as it prepares for the future of urban transportation. The company, focused on electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), announced on December 6th that it had entered a partnership with Sydney Seaplanes for 50 aircraft. This will see eVTOL services operate out of Sydney Harbor as early as 2026.

Details of the deal down under

Eve and Sydney Seaplanes are partnering to provide eVTOL air taxi operations around the Greater Sydney area. The deal will see the Embraer offshoot begin to deliver 50 of the small electric aircraft to Sydney Seaplanes as soon as five years from now, as the first aircraft is expected from 2026.

“This is an exciting development for Sydney Seaplanes. Sydney needs a post-COVID lift and what better way to do that than by developing high-tech and zero carbon jobs that support transport, tourism and the vibrancy of this wonderful city." -Aaron Shaw, CEO, Sydney Seaplanes

One of the largest tourism flight operators in Australia, Sydney Seaplanes' primary focus has been on scenic flights and charters for special occasions. However, Eve's statement on this new partnership notes that commuter journeys will be an option with the introduction of the eVTOLs.

Subject to community consultation, Shaw says that the company is expecting some flights to operate from its Rose Bay aviation terminal in Sydney Harbour, adding, "this service will have a widespread appeal which will allow us to open new routes beyond the Harbour and throughout the greater Sydney region."

Cessna Caravan
The company currently operates using the Cessna Caravan Amphibian and the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver. Photo: Sydney Seaplanes

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Sydney Seaplanes today

Founded in 2005 with a single six-seat De Havilland Beaver seaplane, Sydney Seaplanes has established itself as "an integral part of the daily workings of Sydney Harbour and one of the largest tourism flight operators in Australia." Since commencing services some 16 years ago, the company says that it has flown over 425,000 passengers on 80,000 flights.

The company is clearly focused on the future as it announced last year that it would be setting up its own all-electric and zero-emissions regional airline known as Alt Air. Taking place as soon as 2022, the company is hoping to have its first all-electric flights take off as early as 2024. "Introducing eVTOL aircraft offers an opportunity to extend the catchment of the Rose Bay aviation facilities to efficiently serve all of Greater Sydney," the company notes.

Seaplane
Sydney Seaplanes wants to be the leader in emission-free commercial electric flights. Photo: Sydney Seaplanes

Eve around the world

Eve has been aggressively signing partnerships around the world in recent months. To date, we've seen the company announce deals with numerous subsidiaries and offshoots of major airlines such as Kenya Airways and Widerøe.

eVTOL aircraft EVE
Kenya Airways will have an eVTOL subsidiary focused on urban air mobility across Nairobi. Photo: EVE Air Mobility

Launched as a new and independent company from Brazil's Embraer, Eve has also announced collaborations with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, MIT, as well as ANAC (Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency) and DECEA (Brazil's Department of Airspace Control).

What do you think of this new deal? Will Eve become the standard for eVTOL urban air mobility services around the world? Let us know by leaving a comment.