Skyports Signs MOU to Advise Japan’s Oita Prefecture on Future AAM Services
Skyports Infrastructure has signed an agreement with the Oita Prefectural Government in Japan to help assess the infrastructure and routes needed for future Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) services, with the region targeting commercial operations from around 2028.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed on September 2, Skyports will advise the prefecture on potential AAM routes and vertiport locations. The company will also assess the potential social and commercial benefits of the technology and work with local authorities on the feasibility of proposed infrastructure.
The partnership is part of Oita’s wider plans to explore the use of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The prefecture has a combination of mountainous terrain, coastline and dispersed tourism destinations that can make some journeys relatively time-consuming by road and rail.
Initial plans envisage services beginning with sightseeing flights around Beppu Bay and connections between Beppu and Yufuin. From around 2030, the proposed network could expand to destinations including Kuju, Kusu and Hita, alongside connections between Oita City, Beppu, Yufuin and Oita Airport.
Skyports will also work with eVTOL manufacturers as preparations for potential commercial operations progress. A key part of the work will be determining whether proposed routes can support viable services and where ground infrastructure could be located.
The project stems from Japan’s broader interest in developing AAM as a new form of regional transportation. However, reaching commercial operations will require more than aircraft development. Vertiport sites, local planning, operational procedures, regulatory approvals and integration with existing transport networks will all need to be addressed.
