Ferrovial Airports to open a network of vertiports in the UK

Ferrovial Airports has announced plans to deploy a network of more than 25 vertiports – bases for electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to operate from – in the United Kingdom.

It claims that the initiative is another step in its bid to lead the mobility of the future through the development of infrastructure for safe, high-speed, zero carbon aviation.

The move follows the recently announced agreement to develop a network of more than 10 vertiports in Florida in the USA.

Vertiports are essential to provide infrastructure for landing, recharging, and taking off passengers of eVTOL aircraft, such as those being developed by Lilium and Vertical Aerospace.

They are integrated into communities and adapted to the surrounding environment, reducing noise impact and improving energy efficiency through innovative design.

To develop the design and engineering components of the vertiport infrastructure, Ferrovial has partnered with international architecture practice Grimshaw and global engineering, management and development consultancy Mott MacDonald.

“The partnership between vertiports and eVTOLs will provide high speed, affordable, emissions-free travel to millions of people. This network will boost local economies with a new model of regional connectivity”, said Kevin Cox, CEO Ferrovial Airports’ vertiports business.

Ferrovial has over 20 years’ experience of investing, developing and operating 33 airports around the world, including the United States, Australia and Chile.

It currently has four airports in the United Kingdom. With the largest shareholder stake in Heathrow Airport, it is the airport’s core shareholder and industrial partner, and it partly owns Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton Airports.