Lilium Debuts eVTOL Jet at Houston Hobby Airport

DALLAS — This weekend, electric aircraft manufacturer Lilium GmbH displayed its Lilium Jet, the “world's first fully electric jet” that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL), to the U.S. market at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Texas. 

As part of its Regional Air Mobility (RAM) push, the eVTOL maker has designed the Lilium Jet for regional travel, and expects the jet to have an initial operational range of around 110 miles, thus capable of immediately linking Houstonians to the rest of the region via routes such as HOU to Galveston, Houston Spaceport to College Station, The Woodlands to Galveston, and others. 

Galaxy FBO's Houston-area facilities at Houston Hobby, Conroe North Houston Regional Airport (CXO), and The Woodlands Heliport will provide critical infrastructure for Lilium Jet operators in the Houston area.

Jeremy Gee, CEO of Galaxy FBO, said, “We are excited to transform Galaxy FBO into a cutting-edge hub for the eVTOL innovation. As the future of electric aviation takes flight, this marks a significant step in making Houston a leader in sustainable and efficient transportation solutions. Our team is proud to support Lilium's revolutionary mode of travel that will connect Greater Houston in ways never thought possible." 

Production Partnership

Houston-based EMCJET has secured production slots from Lilium as part of a broader partnership agreement and is poised to be involved in the first round of customer deliveries starting in 2026.

Memo Montemayor, Founder & CEO of EMCJET, said, “Our clients want to own the future of aviation and, with our partnership with Lilium, they can do just that. With a spacious cabin, luxurious finishes, and vertical takeoff and landing capability, the Lilium Jet meets our clients’ needs to travel safely, sustainably, and comfortably.” 

Kevin Tipton, Senior Director for Aerospace & Aviation at the Greater Houston Partnership, expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration, stating, “Houston is home to the world’s leading aerospace companies, and we’re thrilled to welcome Lilium and this next generation of aviation technology. Together, we’re on the brink of something groundbreaking for our region.”

Matthew Broffman, Lilium’s VP of Commercial, Americas, said, “Lilium is serious about expanding in the U.S. and actively progressing towards FAA validation. As part of our commitment to working with communities across the U.S. and expanding our customer base, we’re excited to showcase our aircraft for the first time in Houston, a city with a proud legacy of aerospace innovation in America.”

Want to see the Lilium Jet in person? the eVTOL jet will be on exhibit next month at the 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas.

Lilium is gearing up for the maiden piloted flight of the Lilium Jet in early 2025. If all goes well, we'll soon see the eVTOl's aerodynamic shape and “ducted electric fans” speed thru the Houston skies during its forward flight.