Fahari Aviation, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways and EVE UAM, LLC, a subsidiary of Eve Holding, Inc. and a carve-out of Embraer S.A. (“Embraer”), have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for up to 40 electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles. The agreement includes joint studies through a working group to develop and scale the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market and a business model for cargo drone operations in Kenya. The project is expected to start deliveries in 2026.
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a new technology that uses electricity to hover, take off, and land vertically, making it easier to move within cities while avoiding traffic jams.
Allan Kilauea, Group Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Airways said: “Urban air mobility is the future of transport and we are honored to be the champions of this in the region. The journey to realize the dream of eVTOL vehicles in Kenya is on course and the partnership with EVE UAM is a key achievement for us as part of the strategy to adopt new technologies as a growth strategy for the sustainable development of Africa.”
Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve said: “This is a new chapter of the Eve and Fahari Aviation partnership to strengthen both companies’ commitment to establishing the foundations that will sustainably support the ecosystem for urban air mobility in Kenya. Last year, we announced a collaboration to develop operational models for Fahari Aviation’s key markets, and today’s announcement confirms that it is evolving successfully.”
Fahari Aviation has been focusing on innovative and sustainable solutions to address different issues such as traffic jams, sightseeing, parcel delivery, agriculture and wildlife protection. Eve’s zero-emission, low-noise, and accessible eVTOL, together with its global experience, will benefit the development of air mobility in Kenya.