Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Skyports Infrastructure will lead the development of South Korea’s first commercial vertiport network for eVTOL operations on Jeju Island, the London-based vertiport developer announced on September 8.&nbsp;Under a memorandum of understanding with Jeju Island’s local council, Skyports will plan, build, and operate vertiport facilities where eVTOL air taxis can take off and land. According to Skyports, it has already secured vertiport sites and signed agreements with local landowners.
Proposed sites for early deployment include Jeju International Airport, Jungmun, and Seongsan. According to Skyports, these routes will reduce existing transport times by approximately 85%, turning 60-minute drives into 10-minute flights.
As part of the agreement with the Jeju council, Skyports is now also responsible for identifying an eVTOL aircraft manufacturer to be its launch partner for the urban air mobility network, which is expected to become operational in 2028.&nbsp;Jeju’s government previously announced plans to launch services with Overair, a U.S. eVTOL developer that was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2025-08-11/archer-boosts-defense-capability-overair-ip-and-composites">acquired by Archer Aviation</a> last month. In 2023, Overair partnered with Korean industrial group Hanwha Systems to develop plans for air services on Jeju Island using its six-seat Butterfly eVTOL aircraft.
Another possible contender for that position is Skyports’ partner Joby Aviation, which is also collaborating on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-11-14/joby-and-skyports-start-building-first-dubai-vertiport-evtol">vertiport network in Dubai</a> and recently flew its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-12-13/joby-flies-evtol-aircraft-south-korea">JAS4-1 eVTOL aircraft in Korea</a>.&nbsp;
A popular tourist destination, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2022-09-02/south-koreas-jeju-island-plans-evtol-air-taxi-rides-tourists">Jeju Island</a> has been preparing to introduce advanced air mobility services since 2022. The self-governing province, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, envisions electric air taxis as a sustainable method of public transportation and an attraction for tourists.
“This agreement with Skyports marks a turning point in realizing the new transportation system Jeju has envisioned,” said Jeju governor Oh Young-hoon. “By combining Jeju’s unique geographic advantages with world-class technology, we will write a new chapter in the history of future mobility.”

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Skyports Infrastructure to Build Korea’s First eVTOL Vertiport Network

Jeju Island appoints Skyports Infrastructure as lead vertiport developer and operator

Skyports Infrastructure will lead the development of South Korea’s first commercial vertiport network for eVTOL aircraft operations on Jeju Island. 

Skyports to Build Korea’s First eVTOL Vertiport Network

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