Vieques Air Link and Ampaire exploring electric flights

Ampaire co-founder and CTO Cory Combs met with Vieques Air Link (VAL) CEO Carlos Rodriguez at VAL headquarters in San Juan. This meeting served to strengthen the partnership between Ampaire and VAL as the two are exploring opportunities for flight trials. The goal of the partnership is the eventual introduction of electric aircraft on commercial routes in Puerto Rico and the surrounding region.

Ampaire's strategy of providing electrified versions of proven, certified airframes to customers like VAL, means a quicker introduction of sustainable and cost-effective air service. As Combs puts it, "These retrofit aircraft will have dramatically reduced noise, vibration, and pollution that will make for an enhanced customer experience." For their commercial customers, Ampaire is targeting having a certified hybrid electric retrofit product in 2021.

VAL chief Carlos Rodriguez also sees this partnership as an opportunity to differentiate his business from other carriers in the region, "We're excited for the chance to be the first to offer green flight services to passengers and cargo as Ampaire's launch customer in the region." In 2018 VAL signed a Letter of Interest to explore incorporating Ampaire's electric aircraft into their fleet. Together, they're taking the first steps towards green air service in the Caribbean.