Skyports

Skyports develops and operates critical infrastructure for the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry, focusing on two main business lines: Skyports Infrastructure and Skyports Drone Services. The company was founded in 2017 by Duncan Walker and Simon Morrish and is headquartered in London, with a global presence.

The Infrastructure division designs, builds, and operates networks of vertiports for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, also known as air taxis. This involves site selection, design, construction, and obtaining regulatory permits to create a network for passenger and cargo transport. The business model for this division is similar to traditional airports, generating revenue from landing fees, aircraft handling, and hangarage. Key projects include the world's first full-scale vertiport prototype in Singapore in collaboration with Volocopter (2019), a European vertiport testbed in Paris with Groupe ADP (2022), and an agreement to launch air taxi services in Dubai by 2026.

The Drone Services division provides end-to-end drone solutions for logistics, survey, and monitoring across various sectors including medical, maritime, and energy. Notable projects include using drones for the UK's National Health Service (NHS) to deliver COVID-19 test kits, partnering with Royal Mail for postal services in Scotland, and conducting maritime deliveries and automated water quality monitoring. This division operates on a 'drone-as-a-service' model, managing the technology, regulation, and operations for its clients.

Skyports has raised a total of $151 million over seven funding rounds, with its latest being a Series C of over $110 million in April 2024, led by the infrastructure and construction company ACS Group. Other significant investors include Groupe ADP, Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, Kanematsu, and Irelandia Aviation. The company's strategy is vehicle-agnostic, partnering with multiple leading eVTOL manufacturers like Joby Aviation, Vertical Aerospace, Archer, and Beta Technologies to ensure its infrastructure is compatible with a range of aircraft.

Keywords: vertiports, advanced air mobility, AAM, drone services, eVTOL infrastructure, urban air mobility, UAM, drone delivery, air taxi infrastructure, drone logistics, infrastructure operator, cargo drones, vertiport technology, sustainable aviation, drone inspection, last-mile delivery, passenger drones, electric aviation, vertiport networks, beyond visual line of sight