SITA and UrbanV have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a digital-first passenger experience for UrbanV’s vertiports in Rome, which are scheduled to start operations in 2024.
From UrbanV’s test vertiport at Rome Fiumicino Airport, both parties will design, test, and refine a new passenger processing and operating ecosystem to support the first flight between Fiumicino and Rome’s city centre. The partnership will leverage SITA’s portfolio, which includes a wide range of IT solutions for airport management, network connectivity, passenger, flight, and aircraft operations.
“We strongly believe in the development of the AAM market, getting it right from the start via vertiports that are hubs of integrated mobility,” said Sergio Colella, SITA President for Europe. “This agreement aims to shape the future travel experience at vertiports globally. Together, we will explore new standards and a digital-first passenger experience by leveraging our mutual expertise in air transport for the AAM industry. This will accelerate a safe adoption of Advanced Air Mobility in Italy and beyond.”
SITA and UrbanV will also closely collaborate to test and validate UrbanV’s concept of operations blueprint in Rome and evaluate potential commercial synergies worldwide for a joint go-to-market in the Advanced and Urban Air Mobility segment.
UrbanV envisions vertiports being interoperable by multiple eVTOL operators and integrated within the local aviation ecosystem, such as Fiumicino Airport.
“UrbanV and SITA share an aviation background and an innovation mindset,” said Carlo Tursi, CEO, UrbanV. “This will enable us to develop an agnostic, modular, and repeatable approach to designing, building, and operating vertiports globally. Italy will be our launch country, and Rome will be one of the first cities in the world where AAM services will be available. This partnership allows us to offer a unique value proposition to be scaled globally and to accelerate the adoption of AAM services.”
