August 3, 2023
Revo Launches an Urban Mobility App for Helicopter Rides with Booking in Minutes
São Paulo, August 3, 2023 – Revo, a digital urban mobility platform that combines air and ground transportation supported by artificial intelligence (AI), has started its operations in São Paulo. The first regular routes, operated by Airbus twin-engine helicopters, connect Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, São Paulo’s main financial hub, to Guarulhos International Airport, and the Cidade Jardim Complex to Fazenda Boa Vista, a luxury development located in Porto Feliz, 100 kilometers from the capital. Revo invested over $5 million (approximately 25 million Brazilian reais) for its launch, with most of the investment allocated to developing its proprietary technology platform.
Revo is an affiliate of Omni Helicopters International (OHI) group, originally founded in Portugal, and currently the leading offshore transport provider in Latin America through its affiliate Omni Táxi Aéreo. Using Data and AI to plan routes considering different variables such as the number of business/first-class passenger flights and traffic on São Paulo’s main roads, Revo offers, via mobile app or directly through a concierge service – via email (concierge@flyrevo.com) or WhatsApp (11 91639-9937) – bookings in minutes for single seats, multiple seats, or full aircraft capacity, a first in this market.
In addition to air transportation, the service includes complimentary car service providing a complete door-to-door service. “We are an exclusive, high quality, digital service that promises to solve an existing mobility problem,” says João Welsh, CEO of Revo. “We are pioneers in advanced air mobility, and we exist so that our customers can save precious time when they need it most, conveniently, comfortably and with maximum safety.”
Revo uses twin-engine helicopters from Omni’s fleet. For example, the H135 model can carry up to five passengers, while the H155 transports up to eight. All flights adhere to the highest industry safety standards and feature double crew. The helicopter route between the airport and Avenida Faria Lima costs 3,500 reais per seat. For routes between São Paulo and Fazenda Boa Vista, the fare is 5,000 reais. Currently, the only available option for travel using twin-engine helicopters and double crews is to charter an entire aircraft with an average cost of 20,000 reais to the airport or 35,000 reais to Fazenda Boa Vista.
Targeting high-income individuals, Revo was created in 2020, at a time when there was an increase in demand for services through simple, intuitive, and secure apps and platforms. Revo’s solution combines first-class service, premium lounges at the arrival and departure points, and highly trained hosts to provide the necessary passenger assistance. The company believes that advanced air mobility can contribute to reducing traffic congestion.
To that effect, Revo and OHI have signed an agreement with Eve Air Mobility, an Embraer spin-off, for the acquisition of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). When these vehicles become available Revo´s proprietary technology platform will be ready to accommodate this transition. “eVTOLs are the future of mobility. They will make flights greener, more accessible, and sustainable, but who will operate these vehicles? Where are the passengers? There is still much to be done in terms of infrastructure for them to become a reality in a few years. We are entering first, starting an accelerated learning process with helicopters, to lead this transition. We are committed to creating a future where urban flights will be more democratic and carbon-neutral,” says Welsh. The company also signed an agreement with Airbus focused on the development of the ecosystem and urban air mobility market through this type of aircraft.
During the soft launch, between August and October, Revo will operate around 30 flights between Monday and Friday, to and from Guarulhos Airport. The Fazenda Boa Vista route will have 10 weekly regular flights between Friday and Monday. Customers will also be able to book private flights between São Paulo and nearby regions such as the countryside, beach, and neighboring cities. The company plans to expand the initial routes and flight frequency over the next few months, incorporating customer feedback.
All Revo flights are operated by Omni Táxi Aéreo, which is also an affiliate of the OHI group, Omni Táxi Aéreo has been operating in Brazil for more than 20 years and is the largest helicopter operator in Latin America. Its fleet of 90 helicopters, which conducts 1,500 weekly flights, is valued at $1 billion. Approximately 500,000 passengers are transported annually by the company.
Based in Rio de Janeiro, Omni Táxi Aéreo offers personnel and equipment transportation services from land bases to offshore platforms and other facilities, for clients such as Petrobras, Total, Exxon, and Shell. The company has over 1,400 employees and its own pilot training academy and maintenance centers.
OHI owns 100% of Revo. In turn, OHI is supported by its main shareholder, Stirling Square Capital Partners, a UK-based private equity firm that currently manages a portfolio of over 3 billion euros.