UK Startup Partners Marubeni to Develop Japanese Air Taxi Network Amid Strong Demand for Urban Mobility

Vertical Aerospace is laying the blueprint for Japan’s first air taxi routes in partnership with Marubeni. The UK startup has partnered with one of Japan’s largest trading and investment companies to develop a network of air taxi routes connecting major cities and airports. According to AeroTime, Vertical Aerospace announced plans at the Singapore Airshow on February 4, 2026. The company is targeting airliner-level safety type certification for its eVTOL ‘Valo’ in 2028 with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as well as JCAB validation. Marubeni has placed a conditional pre-order option of up to 200 Vertical eVTOL aircraft in 2021, following that in 2023 with a commitment to reserve early delivery slots for the first 25 out of 200.