New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has declared Downtown Skyport as the new operator of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH).
Following a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, Downtown Skyport will take over management of DMH to continue existing operations and upgrade the City-owned heliport to provide the supporting infrastructure for eVTOL aircraft, as well as last-mile maritime freight delivery.
Downtown Skyport is a joint venture between Skyports Infrastructure, a leading provider of ground infrastructure for the advanced air mobility industry, and Groupe ADP, a leader in airport design, construction, financing, and operation.
Following a transition period with the heliport’s current operator, Downtown Skyport will assume control of operations at DMH in early 2025. The targeted completion of the design and permitting process for the new charging infrastructure for eVTOL aircraft and last-mile maritime infrastructure is 2026.
First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springe said, “Today New York City’s Harbor of the Future takes a huge step forward, advancing the city’s vision for an inter-modal, electrified transportation network that sets a global example for electrified, quiet flight in urban environments and a Blue Highway network for improved last-mile movement of freight. I look forward to the execution of this plan and the improvements in quality of life and economic impacts that come with it.”
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO, Andrew Kimball, said, “NYCEDC is proud to welcome Downtown Skyport as the new operator of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. With their expertise in global transportation, Downtown Skyport is perfectly positioned to advance the Adams Administration’s vision of transforming DMH into a hub for cutting-edge mobility. By integrating eVTOL technology — a quieter, greener alternative to traditional helicopters — and facilitating maritime freight and last-mile deliveries, this initiative will not only reduce truck traffic but bring huge quality of life improvements for all New Yorkers.”
Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said, “Skyports and Groupe ADP are proud to be selected by NYCEDC to transform the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) into a future-ready, multi-modal hub.
“By integrating eVTOL infrastructure and maritime freight capabilities at DMH, the facility will serve as a lynchpin to advance the City’s goals of creating a comprehensive micro distribution network along the “Blue Highway” and improve quality of life for New Yorkers. This milestone positions New York City as a leader in quiet, electric mobility solutions and sets a benchmark for cities across the U.S. and globally. We’d like to thank our industry peers and Skyports’ shareholder ACS Group for their support.”
Downtown Skyport has committed to making DMH and the New York City skies quieter and more sustainable by:
- Investing in the supporting infrastructure (e.g., chargers) and any necessary utility upgrades within the initial five-year term in anticipation of eVTOL certification and commercial viability;
- Incentivizing the adoption of quiet eVTOL technology to address community quality of life concerns;
- Diversifying DMH activities and mitigating the challenges of traffic congestion in the City by developing and operating a maritime facility for last-mile micro-distribution funded in part by nearly $1 million of a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) grant awarded to NYCEDC to create and support a “Marine Highway” network;
- Expanding minority and women owned business enterprises (M/WBE) outreach required for all work including 30 percent utilization goals for site development and construction activities;
- Introducing workforce development training programsthat improve access to career pathways in aviation, maritime, transportation, logistics, and other relevant sectors;
- And improvements to the main passenger terminal to enhance the overall customer experience.
Downtown Skyport’s concession agreement at DMH will be for five years with a five-year renewal conditioned upon the timely build-out of the eVTOL charging and maritime freight berthing infrastructure. Two additional five-year renewal options are available at the City’s discretion.
