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EHang Partners With China Southern Airlines GA Arm

The Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer will partner on flight operations, infrastructure, demonstrations, and more.

Tuesday, July 02, 2024 at 09:00 AM ET

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EHang’s flagship EH216-S electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi completes a flight between Hengqin, Zhuhai, and Dong’ao Island in 2021. [Courtesy: EHang]

Key Takeaways:

EHang, a leading manufacturer of autonomous eVTOLs, has partnered with China Southern Airlines General Aviation (CSGAC) to jointly develop flight operations, infrastructure, and new use cases for its EH216-S aircraft.
The partnership will establish demonstration sites for aerial tourism in China's Greater Bay Area and explore other applications like island-hopping for cargo and emergency services, aiming to advance the region's "low-altitude economy."
EHang's EH216-S is notable as the world's first type-certified, airworthiness-approved, and mass-produced autonomous eVTOL, having already completed commercial flights and being positioned as a relatively affordable option ($330,000).

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EHang, manufacturer of the world’s first and only type-certified electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, has formed a strategic partnership with the subsidiary of one of the world’s largest airlines.

The Chinese firm on Monday announced it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China Southern Airlines General Aviation (CSGAC), the GA subsidiary of China Southern Airlines, which in 2023 ranked as one of the 10 largest public airlines by revenue. EHang and CSGAC will focus mainly on flight operations, infrastructure support, demonstrations, and the development of new use cases for the former’s flagship EH216-S.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.