A new partnership between SITA and Urban-Air Port Ltd (UAP) will support the development of scalable, digitally enabled vertiport infrastructure for advanced air mobility (AAM).
The collaboration will focus on integrating physical infrastructure with digital platforms to enable safe and efficient operations of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) in urban environments.
The partnership aims to deliver the world’s first fully integrated Software-Defined Vertiport, with a co-developed ‘AirOne’ model serving as a prototype for future global deployment.
UAP will contribute its expertise in modular, compact vertiport designs, while SITA brings its long-standing capabilities in passenger processing, air-to-ground communications and real-time operational data management.
The integration of UAP’s modular vertiport infrastructure with SITA’s digital systems aims to accelerate the deployment of AAM hubs that can support passenger and cargo services.
Urban-Air Port’s patented ‘Vertical Airfield’ model is significantly smaller than traditional airports, with a footprint approximately 80% smaller. It supports various VTOL aircraft types, incorporates integrated energy storage, and is intended to be easily deployed and adapted to suit local conditions.
Benoit Verbaere, Director of Business Development for Travel & Transport at SITA, said:Urban Air Mobility holds vast potential to shape the future of travel, but it must scale rapidly, safely, and intelligently. We’re using our decades of aviation expertise to build the digital backbone of the AAM ecosystem, seamlessly integrating eVTOLs into tomorrow’s intermodal transport networks.
The Vertiport Management System (VMS), a cloud-based platform that will coordinate key aspects of vertiport operations, will be central to the collaboration. It will coordinate resource planning, passenger flow, security, weather monitoring and scheduling. The VMS also incorporates automation and AI to support scalable and reliable operations in complex urban settings.
Andrea Wu, CEO of Urban-Air Port, commented:This isn’t just about new infrastructure, it’s about delivering a fully-connected experience for passengers, VTOL and transport operators. By uniting our innovative vertiport hardware with SITA's proven aviation platforms, we’re building a real foundation for safe, scalable air mobility with global reach.
