Air taxi from Vertical Aerospace, UK
Vertical Valo (VX4)launch date, fares and status
Vertical's full-scale VX4 prototypes completed piloted transition flights in April and August 2026 and flew five days of public demonstrations at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2026. The production design, Valo, is due to be locked at Critical Design Review by the end of 2026, but in August 2026 the company warned of material uncertainty about its ability to continue as a going concern, and in September it hired Jefferies to explore strategic options.
How far it has got
- Prototype
- Testing
- Certifying
- Certified
- Flying passengers
Certifying: in formal certification.
This aircraft won't be sold to individuals; you'll book a seat with an operator once service starts.
Not bookable: Vertical now targets certification in 2029, and its partners Bristow and Skyports have planned London routes linking Canary Wharf with Heathrow, Gatwick, Cambridge and Oxford, originally from early 2029.
Watch it fly
Video from Vertical Aerospace on YouTube. It loads only when you press play.
Key facts
- Around 1,500 pre-orders from customers including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines; Heli Air Monaco has also ordered Valo for French Riviera routes.
- Vertical says it became only the second company to complete a piloted transition flight in a full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL (April 2026).
- It announced about $100 million in financing commitments in August 2026 and held about $134 million in cash on 13 August 2026.
- Opened an assembly centre at Cotswold Airport in September 2026, sized for more than 25 aircraft a year after certification.
- Received a New York Stock Exchange notice dated 9 September 2026 (disclosed 2 October) after its share price fell below $1.
Fares and how to ride
Specifications
Questions people ask
How much will a Vertical Valo ride cost?
No fare has been announced. Vertical sells the aircraft to airlines and helicopter operators, who would set ticket prices, and it says a six-seat cabin option could help bring fares down.
When can you ride the Vertical Valo?
Not before the end of the decade. Vertical now targets certification in 2029 (it previously said 2028), with its first certification-standard aircraft due to fly in 2028. The planned London service with Bristow and Skyports was announced to start in early 2029, and the company's finances add risk to all of these dates.
Do you need a pilot's license to ride the Vertical Valo?
No. Passengers ride with an operator such as Bristow or an airline partner, and a commercial pilot flies the aircraft.
Has the Vertical Valo actually flown?
Its VX4 prototypes have. A VX4 made Vertical's first piloted transition from vertical to wing-borne flight in April 2026, a second prototype did the same in August 2026, and the aircraft flew public demonstrations at Farnborough in July 2026. The production Valo design has not flown yet.
Sources
- Vertical Aerospace: Vertical Aerospace Announces Financing Commitments of Approximately $100 Million (August 2026)
- Vertical Aerospace (SEC 6-K exhibit): H1 2026 business update (August 2026)
- Aviation Week: Vertical CEO Defends Progress As Financial Pressures Mount (October 2026)
- Aerospace Global News: Vertical Aerospace opens Valo assembly centre, eyes 1,000 aircraft a year (September 2026)
- Unmanned Airspace: Vertical Aerospace launches Valo eVTOL, UK network plans and announces Heli Air Monaco orders (December 2025)
- FlightGlobal: Vertical flags Valo certification schedule risk on transition flight delay (May 2026)
Last checked October 17, 2026. Makers revise prices and dates often; confirm with Vertical Aerospace before paying a deposit. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
