Bringing together Skyports’ Vertiport Automation System (VAS) and Korean Air’s ACROSS flight operations control and air traffic management system, partnership will explore the development of a holistic technology platform for the management of future eVTOL operations
Busan, South Korea, 26th February 2026 – Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports), the global leader in vertiport infrastructure and operations for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), and Korean Air, South Korea’s flag carrier and a leader in aerospace technology, have entered into a partnership to explore the development of a holistic technology platform for the management of eVTOL operations, creating a system that will support safe and efficient real-world commercial eVTOL services.
The partnership was announced as a part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties, which was signed on the 26th of February during Drone Show Korea (DSK) 2026. The MoU was signed between Ankit Dass, Chief Technology Officer, Skyports Infrastructure, and Kyung-Nam Kim, Managing V.P, Head of R&D Center, Korean Air.
The new solution will bring together leading technologies that both organisations already have in development – Skyports’ Vertiport Automation System (VAS) will support core vertiport operational capabilities, while Korean Air’s Air Control & Routing Orchestrated Skyway System (ACROSS) platform will contribute flight operations and traffic management expertise.
The partnership will explore approaches to technical alignment to support future interoperability between Skyport’s VAS and flight operations systems. The development of the system will involve testing and validation, including joint demonstrations and pilot programs related to vertiport operations and AAM integration, with the longer-term ambition of supporting scalable solutions for the emerging AAM industry.
Together Skyports and Korean Air bring unique, complimenting areas of expertise. One of the world’s leading airlines, Korean Air specializes in existing flight operations control and traffic management systems, while Skyports specializes in vertiport technologies and operational know-how, with vertiport networks under development around the globe. Its Dubai vertiport network is planning commercial eVTOL operations before the end of 2026, and it is constructing a parallel network in Abu Dhabi. It also operates the world’s busiest commercial heliport in New York City, Downtown Skyport, which it is transitioning to AAM, and is developing Korea’s first vertiport network in Jeju Island, which will see commercial operations in 2028.
Commenting on the MoU signing, Ankit Dass, Chief Technology Officer, Skyports, said: “Whilst eVTOL aircraft development is progressing at a good pace, there are still various unknowns around how they would operate and navigate effectively in the real world environment. This partnership with Korean Air reflects our shared vision to create the technologies and operational frameworks needed to bring Advanced Air Mobility to life. With Skyports having a vertiport network under development in Dubai, where the world’s first full-scale commercial eVTOL service is planned, alongside developing Korea’s first AAM network in Jeju Island, we have highly relevant future contexts for potential applications of such technologies.”
Kwang-Oh Moon, Head of Future Technology Development Center, Korean Air, said: “ACROSS aims to provide seamless services in both flight operation control and low-altitude air traffic management once AAM aircraft are commercialised. From a systems perspective, close integration with vertiports, which will assume the role of traditional airports for commercial aviation, is critically important. The synergy between Skyports’s infrastructure and Korea Air’s ACROSS will set the global standard for AAM operations.”
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About Skyports Infrastructure
Skyports Infrastructure is a global leader in the design, build, and operation of heliports and vertiports for helicopters and eVTOLs. With live operational assets in the UK and US, and projects under development across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, Skyports delivers the ground infrastructure needed for safe, efficient, and scalable vertical lift operations. The company is driving the future of urban air mobility, bringing next-generation aviation to cities around the world.
Find out more at: www.skyports.net
About Korean Air Aerospace
Established in 1976 and celebrating its 50th anniversary, Korean Air’s Aerospace is a global leader in aerospace technology. Operating primarily out of its Busan Tech Center and Daejeon Research & Development Center, the division seamlessly integrates half a century of aviation expertise with cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities.
The division specializes in three core areas: the design and manufacturing of complex aircraft structures; comprehensive Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and upgrade services for military aircraft; and development of advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and space launch technologies. Committed to quality and innovation, Korean Air Aerospace continues to drive the future of aerospace mobility and defense systems.
Korean Air’s aerospace capabilities are supplemented by the airline’s 57-year history, carrying more than 25 million passengers in 2025. With its hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 116 cities in 39 countries on five continents with over 20,000 professional employees. A founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, Korean Air operates a transpacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines, offering customers a seamless travel network and enhanced benefits.
For more information about Korean Air Aerospace, please visit: http://aerospace.koreanair.com
Media contact
Doug Anson
Senior Communications & Marketing Manager, Skyports
+44 (0)7961 444 350
