NEOM Lilium EVTOL 100 Aircraft: The Bold MEA First 100-aircraft EVTOL Airline Order Explained

The keyword phrase “NEOM Lilium eVTOL 100 aircraft” implies a specific airline-scale order tied to NEOM and Lilium. The sources provided here do not contain that announcement, contract language, or any count of “100” connected to NEOM and Lilium. One FlightGlobal report instead describes how Lilium’s development programme was “on ice since Lilium’s closure in February” and notes that Dutch-registered Ambitious Air Mobility Group (AAMG) had previously placed an order for 16 Lilium Jets and later said it hoped to lead a “revival effort”. Based on these sources alone, the NEOM–Lilium 100-aircraft claim cannot be verified.

What the sources do confirm is that the Middle East and nearby markets are seeing large eVTOL commitments, but they vary in firmness, purpose, and even what is being bought. In Abu Dhabi, Falcon Aviation Services secured a commitment for 50 eVTOL aircraft from Autoflight, split into 15 V2000CG cargo aircraft and 35 V2000EMs for passenger transport, with the passenger version not yet certificated. Another Middle East-linked development cited by Forbes is the UAE’s commitment to an initial acquisition of 50 Omen systems tied to a separate agreement where Archer provides powertrain technology.

How to Read “100-Aircraft” Headlines Without Getting Misled

The largest “up to 100” figure in the provided sources is not NEOM or Lilium. FlightGlobal reports that Korean Air signed for up to 100 Archer Midnight eVTOL aircraft as part of a wider collaboration agreement aimed at commercialising Midnight in South Korea “starting with government applications”. The same report says it is unclear whether the commitment is firm or tentative. That distinction matters because a headline number can refer to a non-firm commitment, a framework, or options, not guaranteed near-term deliveries.

Infrastructure and timing are also part of what makes an order “real” in operational terms. In Dubai, Skyports is in the final stages of building its first vertiport just outside the perimeter of DXB, described as a three-storey “flagship” structure scheduled to open by the end of the first quarter, with three other smaller locations expected by the end of 2026. FlightGlobal also reports that in Bahrain, a framework agreement with Eve could see commercial operations begin in 2028 and expand internationally the following year, with objectives that include a “sandbox environment” and vertiport development.

Against that backdrop, Lilium-related facts in the sources point to uncertainty rather than a confirmed mega-order. FlightGlobal says AAMG wants to acquire Lilium’s core intellectual property, facilities and test assets, and aims for the “retention and rehiring of key technical and certification teams”, while also noting staffing challenges after Lilium’s closure. The same report says Lilium had never moved beyond flights of subscale ‘Phoenix’ demonstrators, and it was uncertain how far ground testing of MSN1 had advanced. Those details are why any “NEOM Lilium eVTOL 100 aircraft” claim needs a primary announcement source before it should be treated as confirmed.

The safest takeaway from the sources is that large eVTOL numbers are appearing across the region, but they come in different contractual forms and readiness levels. Examples include 50 aircraft split between cargo and passenger roles (Autoflight/Falcon Aviation Services), infrastructure being built with target dates through end of 2026 (Dubai vertiports), and a framework timeline reaching 2028 and the following year (Bahrain/Eve). Until a NEOM–Lilium document or on-record statement appears in a reliable outlet, the phrase “NEOM Lilium eVTOL 100 aircraft” should be treated as unconfirmed within the evidence provided here.