Vertiport expert Skyports Infrastructure is unstoppable: after recently expanding its strategic partnership with US eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) manufacturer Wisk, it is now joining forces with a leading Australian real estate, infrastructure and sustainable development company, Wagner Corporation.
The shared focal point of these two key partnerships is the Australian state of Queensland, specifically the South East Queensland (SEQ) region. This is one of the fastest developing regions in the country, with immense potential for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations.
According to Scott Smith, CEO of the Council of Mayors (SEQ), the sector is expected to contribute over $66 billion to the Australian economy over the next two decades. In addition, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are another major factor that is increasing the exciting prospects for air taxi services across Queensland.
The partnership with Wagner Corporation is a key move for Skyports that will accelerate the development of a vertiport network. The two will begin evaluating multiple sites from Wagner’s portfolio from a complex perspective, including commercial viability. Much of this will be done behind the scenes, and is one of the most important aspects of launching commercial air taxi operations. Wisk and other eVTOL companies will also participate in this process.
Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport (WTB) is poised to become a major site for this AAM initiative. It began operations a decade ago as Australia’s first privately funded public airport. It is strategically located close to Brisbane (about 90 miles/145 km away) and appears to meet the criteria to initially become a vertiport testbed and then a permanent site for air taxi operations.
And that’s not all: WTB could also host manufacturing facilities, again built by Wagner Corporation, offering access to eVTOL construction and testing to all OEM operators. This will not be limited to Australia, but open to the entire Asia-Pacific region. Ultimately, the goal is to have several sites approved and operational by the 2032 Olympics deadline, which should coincide with the launch of air taxi services.
Some of the eVTOLs that will be flying passengers at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics are expected to be Wisk’s sixth-generation autonomous aircraft. People in the SEQ region could be among the first to experience zero-emission travel aboard Wisk’s autonomous air taxis. Skyports and Wisk have been working together since 2022, when it was recognized as the first partnership of its kind between a vertiport developer and an autonomous eVTOL manufacturer.
Last month, the two expanded their pioneering partnership with the specific goal of establishing a dedicated operations network, known as the Entry-into-Service (EIS) network, in the SEQ region. This is where Wagner Corporation will play an important strategic role with its large real estate portfolio and the enormous potential of existing locations like WTB.