Airbus' on-demand helicopter travel startup shuttered amid the pandemic. Take a look at the rise and fall of Voom.

Thomas PalliniApr 25, 2020, 17:29 IST

A helicopter booked through Airbus' Voom.NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

Airbus-backed helicopter startup Voom is ceasing operations due to the impact of COVID-19 on the business.
Voom was founded in 2016 from Airbus' Silicon Valley incubator Acubed with flights launching in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2017, later expanding to Mexico City and San Francisco.
Intra-city helicopter flights were booked via the company's mobile app or website with Voom flying over 15,000 passengers and collecting valuable data for Airbus on urban air mobility during its tenure.
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Airbus' mobile app-based helicopter ride-hailing subsidiary is no more.

After four years of operations, Voom closed its doors on March 23 with CEO Clement Monnet citing the COVID-19 virus as the primary cause of its demise. The Airbus-incubated and backed startup was one of the first forays into urban air mobility for the European aircraft manufacturer, which has a sizeable helicopter division.

"On March 23, we were forced to cease global operations due to the virus, and today, with our Airbus leadership, we have made the tough call that Voom will not resume its operations," Monnet said in a blog post on Airbus' website.

Voom successfully brought app-based ride-hailing to the skies by offering on-demand helicopter service in three major cities that could be booked from a mobile phone. Before its ultimate collapse, Voom had seen operations in the San Francisco, Mexico City, and São Paulo areas, acting as a booking platform that connected travelers with existing helicopter companies in each region.

Though the business will be no more, Monnet and Airbus say that they've proved urban air mobility to be viable and the latter will continue to invest in making robust intra-city networks viable using helicopters and future vertical take-off and land aircraft.

Take a look at the rise and fall of Voom.

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"Airbus continues to invest in the UAM arena and will be able to leverage the knowledge gained through Voom," concluded Monnet.

A helicopter in São Paulo, Brazil booked through Airbus' Voom. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

Most flyers in the company's first year were also first-time helicopter flyers, which Monnet says proves that his firm was successful in "democratizing" helicopter travel.

A helicopter in São Paulo, Brazil booked through Airbus' Voom. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

Most flyers in the company's first year were also first-time helicopter flyers, which Monnet says proves that his firm was successful in "democratizing" helicopter travel.

The data acquired from Voom will only help advance the cause of urban air mobility and make it a viable mode of transportation once the technology catches up with the concept, according to Monnet.

A helicopter in São Paulo, Brazil booked through Airbus' Voom. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

The data acquired from Voom will only help advance the cause of urban air mobility and make it a viable mode of transportation once the technology catches up with the concept, according to Monnet.

"This is just one chapter in urban air mobility, with so much more to come," Monnet said in his goodbye blog post. "It is not a question of whether the UAM market will open up, but when."

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Josue Gonzalez/Reuters

"This is just one chapter in urban air mobility, with so much more to come," Monnet said in his goodbye blog post. "It is not a question of whether the UAM market will open up, but when."

For Airbus, the Voom experiment gave insight into a burgeoning field of transportation that will rely on helicopters, including those produced by Airbus, until new vertical take-off and land vehicles can be produced.

A helicopter in São Paulo, Brazil booked through Airbus' Voom. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

For Airbus, the Voom experiment gave insight into a burgeoning field of transportation that will rely on helicopters, including those produced by Airbus, until new vertical take-off and land vehicles can be produced.

Despite the COVID-19-induced collapse, both Voom and Airbus are claiming success.

A helicopter in São Paulo, Brazil booked through Airbus' Voom. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

And averages prices only double that of a ground-based car service while reducing travel times. In California, a 30-mile flight from Oakland to San Jose cost $245 while San Francisco to Napa, around 40 miles, was $425.

A helicopter in São Paulo, Brazil booked through Airbus' Voom. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

And averages prices only double that of a ground-based car service while reducing travel times. In California, a 30-mile flight from Oakland to San Jose cost $245 while San Francisco to Napa, around 40 miles, was $425.

a 45% repeat business rate...

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Josue Gonzalez/Reuters

During its three-year run offering helicopter flights in three cities, Airbus touted that Voom had flown over 15,000 passengers...

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Josue Gonzalez/Reuters

Going beyond airport-to-downtown service, Voom had destination heliports throughout the regions it served to offer commuter or cross-town service within major metropolitan areas.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. TOMAS BRAVO/Reuters

Going beyond airport-to-downtown service, Voom had destination heliports throughout the regions it served to offer commuter or cross-town service within major metropolitan areas.

The service proved popular with those looking to beat the traffic associated with major cities by simply flying above them and utilizing existing heliport infrastructure.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. TOMAS BRAVO/Reuters

The service proved popular with those looking to beat the traffic associated with major cities by simply flying above them and utilizing existing heliport infrastructure.

After launching in São Paulo, Voom expanded to economic centers across the Americas with Mexico City and San Francisco added to the company's scope of operations.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Gustavo Graf Maldonado/Reuters

After launching in São Paulo, Voom expanded to economic centers across the Americas with Mexico City and San Francisco added to the company's scope of operations.

Contracting with independent helicopter operators allows the platforms to save on the high operating costs that come with owning helicopters and simply pass along a price to the customer and facilitate a transaction.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Josue Gonzalez/Reuters

Contracting with independent helicopter operators allows the platforms to save on the high operating costs that come with owning helicopters and simply pass along a price to the customer and facilitate a transaction.

All three companies - Voom, Blade, and Uber - have one thing in common: they don't actually operate the helicopters that they sell seats on.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Gustavo Graf Maldonado/Reuters

In wealthy markets including New York City, app-based helicopter bookings started with companies like Blade and have since been expanded with Uber, though the latter is still in its infancy operating one route.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. TOMAS BRAVO/Reuters

In wealthy markets including New York City, app-based helicopter bookings started with companies like Blade and have since been expanded with Uber, though the latter is still in its infancy operating one route.

Mobile booking platforms have largely helped make helicopter travel more accessible and furthered the concept of urban air mobility.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Gustavo Graf Maldonado/Reuters

A mobile app or Voom's website would connect a customer with a helicopter operator and booking would be handled through the app, not unlike Uber and Lyft.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Gustavo Graf Maldonado/Reuters

The Airbus-backed company originated in the manufacturer's Silicon Valley incubator, Acubed, with the idea of changing the way travelers booked helicopter flights and expanding the use of rotorcraft in urban air mobility.

A helicopter in Mexico City booked through Airbus' Voom. Gustavo Graf Maldonado/Reuters

The Airbus-backed company originated in the manufacturer's Silicon Valley incubator, Acubed, with the idea of changing the way travelers booked helicopter flights and expanding the use of rotorcraft in urban air mobility.

Voom launched helicopter operations in São Paulo, Brazil in 2017.

A helicopter in São Paulo, Brazil booked through Airbus' Voom. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty

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Airbus' on-demand helicopter travel startup shuttered amid the pandemic. Take a look at the rise and fall of Voom.

"Airbus continues to invest in the UAM arena and will be able to leverage the knowledge gained through Voom," concluded Monnet.

Most flyers in the company's first year were also first-time helicopter flyers, which Monnet says proves that his firm was successful in "democratizing" helicopter travel.

The data acquired from Voom will only help advance the cause of urban air mobility and make it a viable mode of transportation once the technology catches up with the concept, according to Monnet.

"This is just one chapter in urban air mobility, with so much more to come," Monnet said in his goodbye blog post. "It is not a question of whether the UAM market will open up, but when."

For Airbus, the Voom experiment gave insight into a burgeoning field of transportation that will rely on helicopters, including those produced by Airbus, until new vertical take-off and land vehicles can be produced.

Despite the COVID-19-induced collapse, both Voom and Airbus are claiming success.

And averages prices only double that of a ground-based car service while reducing travel times. In California, a 30-mile flight from Oakland to San Jose cost $245 while San Francisco to Napa, around 40 miles, was $425.

a 45% repeat business rate...

During its three-year run offering helicopter flights in three cities, Airbus touted that Voom had flown over 15,000 passengers...

Going beyond airport-to-downtown service, Voom had destination heliports throughout the regions it served to offer commuter or cross-town service within major metropolitan areas.

The service proved popular with those looking to beat the traffic associated with major cities by simply flying above them and utilizing existing heliport infrastructure.

After launching in São Paulo, Voom expanded to economic centers across the Americas with Mexico City and San Francisco added to the company's scope of operations.

Contracting with independent helicopter operators allows the platforms to save on the high operating costs that come with owning helicopters and simply pass along a price to the customer and facilitate a transaction.

All three companies - Voom, Blade, and Uber - have one thing in common: they don't actually operate the helicopters that they sell seats on.

In wealthy markets including New York City, app-based helicopter bookings started with companies like Blade and have since been expanded with Uber, though the latter is still in its infancy operating one route.

Mobile booking platforms have largely helped make helicopter travel more accessible and furthered the concept of urban air mobility.

A mobile app or Voom's website would connect a customer with a helicopter operator and booking would be handled through the app, not unlike Uber and Lyft.

The Airbus-backed company originated in the manufacturer's Silicon Valley incubator, Acubed, with the idea of changing the way travelers booked helicopter flights and expanding the use of rotorcraft in urban air mobility.

Voom launched helicopter operations in São Paulo, Brazil in 2017.