Directional Aviation’s Halo brand orders 200 eVTOL aircraft from Eve

The private business aviation investment firm Directional Aviation is entering the urban air mobility space with an order for 200 eVTOL aircraft from Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, a spinoff of Embraer.

The value and terms of the order were not disclosed. The aircraft will be operated by Halo, a Directional Aviation brand created by the alignment of Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) in the U.S. — which Directional Aviation’s OneSky Flight acquired in February of this year — and Halo Aviation Ltd. in the U.K., which it acquired in May.

With deliveries of Eve’s four-passenger eVTOL air taxi expected to begin in 2026, the order secures Halo as the launch partner for Eve in both the U.S. and the U.K. markets. Halo plans to operate 100 of the eVTOL aircraft in the U.S., and 100 in the U.K.

“We believe Eve has designed an aircraft that is well-prepared for not only initial certification but also has a proven track record of production,” stated Kenneth C. Ricci, principal of Directional Aviation, in a press release. “The outstanding lineage of aircraft design, certification, and production that Embraer brings to this aircraft positions Eve with significant advantages in the competitive landscape.”

Beyond their collaboration to develop a new eVTOL operation, Eve and Halo will partner on continued development of Eve’s urban air traffic management system, as well as Eve’s fleet operations and services product offerings.

“Our background as operators has taught us that product support is absolutely vital to the overall success of new programs,” Ricci continued. “The relationship between Embraer and Eve will create one of the most successful global product support infrastructures in the industry. Finally, the work that Eve and Embraer have completed around their traffic management system is just one more example of how uniquely positioned Eve is to help us deliver on our vision.”

The announcement follows significant moves in the eVTOL market by competitors to Directional Aviation, whose multiple brands also include Flexjet, Sentient Jet, FXAIR, and PrivateFly.

In May, Luxaviation Group announced a partnership with Lilium to build out the German eVTOL developer’s regional air mobility operations in Europe. Meanwhile, Blade Urban Air Mobility, which organizes helicopter flights in and around New York City and other markets, has announced an order for up to 20 eVTOL aircraft from Beta Technologies, and has partnered with Wisk to use up to 30 of Wisk’s self-flying air taxis.

Besides being long-term plays for these business aviation providers, eVTOL partnerships could also help justify their existing helicopter operations, which can be a target of noise complaints. Blade, for example, has founded the Alliance for Quiet Electric Aviation with the stated mission of preserving existing aviation and urban air mobility infrastructure — such as city heliports — to enable future eVTOL operations.

Halo currently operates Sikorsky S-76 and Leonardo AW109 and AW169 helicopters. The company said it “will continue to operate its Leonardo and Sikorsky helicopters as the eVTOL aircraft are phased into service, providing a natural bridge to the next generation of vertical lift.”