Ryan’s Irelandia backs $23 million fundraising for air taxis

Last year, the Irish Independent announced that Skyports will spend millions of euros to establish a base at Shannon’s new Future Mobility Campus Ireland.

Mr Ryan is a son of Tony Ryan who founded Ryanair. He has helped found a number of low-cost airlines.

Irelandia initially invested in Skyports in a £6m (€7m) funding round in 2020. Following this investment, Mr. Ryan took a seat on the Skyports Board of Directors.

Skyports has developed the infrastructure for use as drone landing ports, or so-called vertiports, which it hopes will be used in cities around the world. The ports are expected to be used for both cargo and passenger transport. The company also offers cargo delivery by drone.

The latest round of funding for the company was also backed by Groupe ADP, Solar Ventus, Levitate Capital and Japanese conglomerate Kanematsu Corporation, Australian real estate group Goodman, Italian airport platform 2i Aeroporti and US venture capital firm Greenpoint.

Skyports said the new investment would allow it to accelerate collaboration with global electric air taxi developers and operators and provide takeoff and landing infrastructure in key launch markets.

“The support of our original investors, who have extensive experience in aviation and infrastructure, and the addition of new capital from world-class companies with a global footprint, allows us to build the air taxi ecosystem initially alongside our world-class vehicle partners and operate within a few years” , said Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports.

Mr Walker said that Irish Independent last year that Skyports intends to test drone services as well as vertical launch passenger services from Shannon.

Future Mobility Campus Ireland was established by the Shannon Group, which owns Shannon Airport. The campus provides testbeds for land and airborne autonomous vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover is a key partner.