German eVTOL group Lilium GmbH is to enter into a $1 billion commercial deal and strategic alliance with leading Brazilian airline Azul S.A. As part of the commercial arrangement, Lilium would intend to sell 220 aircraft for Azul to operate across the network expected to start in 2025.
Combining Azul’s knowledge of the Brazilian market with Lilium’s unique eVTOL aircraft platform, the companies plan to negotiate the terms for the establishment of a co-branded network in Brazil.
Lilium also announced the appointment of Gabrielle Toledano and Henri Courpron to the Board of Directors of Lilium N.V. upon completion of Lilium’s business combination with Qell Acquisition Corp (“Qell”) (NASDAQ: QELL).
Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and CEO of Lilium says: “Azul has brought convenient and affordable air travel to underserved markets across the Americas and this makes them an ideal partner for Lilium. We’re excited to work with Azul’s seasoned team to deploy a co-branded eVTOL network in Brazil. We’re also thrilled to welcome Gabrielle Toledano and Henri Courpron to the future Board of Directors of Lilium N.V., where they’ll strengthen our Board with their operational and financial experience.”
John Rodgerson, CEO of Azul, adds: “Azul is the largest domestic airline in Brazil in terms of cities served and daily departures. Our brand presence, our unique route network, and our powerful loyalty program give us the tools to create the markets and demand for the Lilium Jet network in Brazil. As we did in the Brazilian domestic market over the last 13 years, we look forward to again, now with the Lilium Jet, working to create a whole new market in the years to come.”
Founded in 2015, Lilium’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities are in Munich, Germany, with teams based across Europe and the U.S.
