AIRPORTS IN Rome and Nice are among several French and Italian hubs that have joined forces to advance the development of vertiports and other infrastructure to support the use of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) platforms. The Urban Blue initiative has been established by Aeroporti di Roma, Aeroporto di Venezia, Aeroports de la Cote d'Azur and Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi di Bologna. A statement from the stakeholders said the joint venture "will be concerned with studying, designing, building and managing the infrastructure to allow eVTOLs to connect airports with built-up areas and promote intra-city mobility". German eVTOL developer Volocopter is involved in the project, which intends to start eVTOL operations in Rome, Nice and Venice by 2024. These cities are "particularly suitable for the first developments of this form of mobility" because of their "favourable weather conditions and flat or coastal surroundings".
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