Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) intents to acquire up to 40 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles starting 2026 for its Fahari Aviation subsidiary from Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility (Fort Lauderdale International), the companies announced.

The parties have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) that also establishes a joint task team to develop and scale the urban air mobility (UAM) market in Kenya and develop a business model for cargo drone operations in the country.

The declarations follow their collaboration announced last year to develop operational models for Fahari Aviation’s key markets.

“Urban air mobility is the future of transport, and we are honoured to be the champions of this in the region. The journey to realise the dream of eVTOL vehicles in Kenya is on course, and the partnership with Eve is a key achievement for us as part of the strategy to adopt new technologies as a growth strategy for the sustainable development of Africa,” commented Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka.

“Fahari Aviation has been focusing on innovative and sustainable solutions to address issues such as traffic jams, sightseeing, parcel delivery, agriculture, and wildlife protection. Eve’s zero-emission, low-noise and accessible eVTOL, together with its global experience, will benefit the development of air mobility in Kenya,” the airline said in a statement.

“This is a new chapter of the Eve and Fahari Aviation partnership to strengthen both companies’ commitment to establishing the foundations that will sustainably support the ecosystem for urban air mobility in Kenya,” said Eve Co-Chief Executive Officer Andre Stein.

Eve’s electric-powered eVTOL lift & cruise vehicle has multiple rotors to take off and land vertically. At cruise altitude, the rear propellers push the aircraft forward as in a wing-borne flight, providing a low-noise experience and making it easier to move within cities while avoiding traffic jams, Eve said in a separate statement.