Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, Skyports, and AirAsia's Advanced Air Mobility unit have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore the development of air taxi infrastructure in Malaysia.

In a statement, the carrier noted that the partnership between Skyports, and AirAsia, a traditional airline operator, is an important "next step" in establishing a fully operational vertiport network in the country.

"As the industry matures, partnerships between traditional aviation players and AAM specialists are essential in developing a practical, well-studied, and well-integrated network of vertiports," AirAsia said in a statement.

AirAsia said it is actively involved in the operationalisation of AAM in Malaysia.

In the past year alone, AirAsia announced future plans to lease 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon, launched its drone training programme, and most recently, extended drone-related training to the high-technology related sectors.

"Leveraging the strengths of both parties, the partnership will draw on AirAsia's aviation expertise and experience, as well as its on-ground market knowledge and networks."

Complementing this, Skyports Infrastructure brings its global portfolio of designing and building take-off and landing infrastructure for eVTOL passenger aircraft.

Assessments to begin in Kuala Lumpur

AirAsia noted that initial assessments will prioritise Kuala Lumpur.

It added that the one-year partnership will focus on joint feasibility studies for the integration of air taxi vertiport infrastructure, the identification of potential vertiport sites, and the development of operational requirements and frameworks to ultimately implement a vertiport network in Malaysia.

"Following the announcement of our venture into the urban air taxi service earlier this year, we have been working around the clock to explore its feasibility in Malaysia. This partnership with Skyports will accelerate the review of the infrastructure including vertical take-off and landing platforms in the country as well as strengthen our potential as a zero-emissions ultra-short-haul air travel provider in Southeast Asia," said Ling Liong Tien,  AirAsia Aviation Group Limited Chief Safety Officer and Head of Advanced Air Mobility, Captain.

"AirAsia has revolutionised commercial air travel for the past two decades and we look forward to working with Skyports which will put us ahead of the curve and shape the future of autonomous aviation in the region," Ling Liong Tien added.

For his part, Yun-Yuan Tay, head of Asia Pacific, Skyports said the AAM company is looking forward to the partnership — a further step toward the expansion of air taxi infrastructure in Asia.

"This partnership highlights the steady progress of AAM development and interest in Malaysia and the wider APAC region," Yun-Yuan Tay added.

Skyports said aside from Malaysia it has ongoing partnerships to assess and develop AAM infrastructure in neighbouring Singapore and Japan.