Héli Air Monaco has taken a step toward cleaner regional aviation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with UK manufacturer Vertical Aerospace to pre-order the company’s new Valo electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The move aims to introduce zero-emission air links across the Côte d’Azur from 2028.
The agreement would allow the operator to deploy the Valo on routes connecting Monaco with Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, offering a quieter, greener alternative to traditional helicopter flights. Unveiled recently in London, the aircraft is designed to carry four passengers and is expected to target both European and UK certification ahead of its planned entry into service.
The initiative is supported by Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and Monaco Heliport, reflecting a broader regional push to reduce noise levels and cut carbon emissions in short-haul aviation. Vertical Aerospace, which has engineered the Valo to comply with Europe’s most stringent commercial aviation safety standards, already holds roughly 1,500 pre-orders for its eVTOL range worldwide.
If timelines hold, the Côte d’Azur could become one of the first European regions to integrate electric air mobility into regular passenger service — a shift that marks a significant step toward more sustainable travel in the region.
