SHANGHAI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian helicopter operator Whitesky Group signed an order with Chinese commercial passenger electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) enterprise Volant Aerotech for 60 VE25-100 commercial passenger aircraft Wednesday, with a total value of 1.5 billion yuan (about 221 million U.S. dollars).
The deal was inked at the International Advanced Air Mobility Expo 2026 in Shanghai. The two parties agreed to jointly promote the development of urban air mobility (UAM) in Indonesia.
The VE25-100 from the Shanghai-based electric air taxi maker can carry six passengers, with a designed range of 200 to 400 kilometers and a maximum speed of 235 kilometers per hour.
If the seats inside the passenger cabin are removed, the aircraft can hold two standard air cargo containers, or one standard air medical emergency stretcher together with two accompanying medical staff.
Denon Prawiraatmadja, CEO and founder of Whitesky Group, said that Chinese companies have shown an unparalleled comprehensive competitive advantage in the global market.
"A helicopter is mechanical engineering, while eVTOL or low-altitude technology provides a more digital system," he said. "China is very good at providing affordable eVTOLs and advanced eVTOL technology."
He noted that aircraft manufactured in Europe and the United States are priced higher and are suitable for serving a few high-end luxury markets. As a large developing country, Indonesia urgently needs inclusive transportation tools that can serve the mass market.
As an archipelagic country, Indonesia faces unique geographical challenges in the interconnectivity of transportation infrastructure, and the rise of the low-altitude economy provides a brand-new solution.
In addition, Indonesia's economy highly depends on three core areas: mineral resources, agriculture and tourism, he said. The low-altitude economy should be able to provide more affordable transportation to support activities mainly in these three sectors, the executive added.
Introducing Volant's efficient aircraft will not only significantly improve the efficiency of cross-island and cross-regional logistics and passenger travel, but also contribute to Indonesia's commitment to a greener economy, he said. ■