The electric air taxi manufacturer Lilium strengthens its supervisory board with former Airbus CEO Tom Enders. Lilium Blog Tom Enders writes that he didn't have to think long about the request from Lilium CEO Daniel Wiegand. He continues:
"Perhaps the thing that has impressed me most about Lilium was that they started with a strong business case and focused from the start on intercity shuttle flights, which allow for higher passenger load factors. I believe with this Lilium is solving the problem of notoriously low load-factors in on-demand air-taxi businesses of the past. It will also help to get ticket prices down and truly democratize electric flight, following Lilium's mission."
The Munich-based startup is developing an electric flying taxi that takes off and lands vertically. In March 2020, Lilium received a Mega investment of $240 millionThis round, led by the Chinese internet giant Tencent, was joined in June by the Scottish investment management firm Baillie Gifford with $35 million. Serial production and operation of regional air services are scheduled to begin in 2025. Enders is confident of success:
"What I have learned in three decades in the aviation industry, I am happy to bring to Lilium. Our industry needs nothing so much as innovation and new perspectives. That's the only way we can maintain and renew our license to fly."
