Lilium, UrbanV, the Italian vertiport network operator, and Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur (ACA), managing Nice Côte d’Azur airport, have announced plans to bring Lilium Jet flights to the South of France starting in 2026.
A new network will connect the French Riviera with key destinations throughout Southern France including Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Golfe de Saint-Tropez, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille.
Lilium is teaming up with ACA and UrbanV to forge a partnership aiming to develop a large part of this network.
As the first partnership of its kind in the region, this collaboration aims to establish and operate eVTOLs between a network of vertiports including Nice Côte d’Azur airport — the second-largest airport in France, transporting over 14 million travellers per year — together with Cannes Mandelieu airport, Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport, and further locations under consideration.
Additionally, Lilium is currently in ongoing discussions with further local partners for the possible creation of additional vertiports in Monaco, Sophia Antipolis, Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, and Marseille, which are expected to be concluded before the end of the year.
Lilium is currently in talks with several operators that are interested in purchasing the Lilium Jet and operating the network to create a sustainable, time-saving experience for their passengers.
Once live, the regional network will connect highly frequented destinations with fast, safe, and sustainable travel for passengers to get to their destination at a fraction of the time typically required by car.
François de Canson, vice-president of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) said, “We are proud that the region Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur is becoming a pioneer in electric flying. By helping to set up the first commercially viable regional eVTOL network in the EU, we are continuing to pave the way towards the achievement of our goal: the ecological transition of transportation in the PACA region. The establishment of this network will greatly benefit our region, in terms of growth and jobs, but also by setting new standards in mobility through a safe, sustainable and low noise mode of transportation that will save people a considerable amount of time.”
Franck Goldnadel, chairman of the Board, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur said, “This collaboration with Lilium together with our subsidiary UrbanV marks an important step in the transformation and decarbonization of regional air mobility. Our territory offers a unique opportunity to fly over the sea to directly connect the main economic, cultural or tourist destinations. A complementary alternative to the helicopter, the eVTOL has its place in the air transport offered from Nice Côte d’Azur, laboratory of the airport of tomorrow, second platform in France and gateway to and exit from a landlocked territory.”
Carlo Tursi, CEO at UrbanV said, “At UrbanV, we aim to improve people’s lives by enabling a fast, efficient, safe, and clean alternative to existing transport solutions for people and goods over short distances, by air. We have the ambition to become a major global operator of vertiport networks and we will be global pioneers in establishing some of the first AAM routes worldwide. We are excited to partner with Lilium and Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, two global leaders in their respective fields, and we look forward to exploring together with them the great potential of introducing advanced air mobility in the French Riviera.”
Sebastien Borel, CCO of Lilium said, “As a truly European company based in Munich, Germany, with flight testing in Spain and with nascent roots in France, Lilium is extremely proud to be able to assist in the creation of the first regional eVTOL network in the South of France and the first commercially viable network in the EU. We see an enormous potential in this region and cannot wait to see our Lilium Jet fly there soon.”
