Lilium has today (Wednesday) made two further announcements at this year’s Singapore Airshow, as it continues on its pathway to commercialisation.
First, the company has appointed Senior Lilium Executive Dominique Decard to head what it has described as the industry’s first Customer Service organisation, known as Lilium POWER-ON.
It is a newly established business offering the full aircraft manufacturer services portfolio. This includes training services, maintenance operations, material and battery management and global distribution, flight operations support, ground service equipment and digital solutions.
Commenting on this announcement, Klaus Roewe, Lilium CEO, said: “As regional air mobility accelerates, our partners can rely on Lilium to provide a comprehensive aircraft manufacturer service organization. The team is focused on enabling seamless, efficient services and support through premium aftermarket products and world-class partners.
“With an experienced leader like Dominique at the helm, we are confident Lilium POWER-ON will offer outstanding customer service while strengthening Lilium’s business.”
Work began on Lilium POWER-ON, two years ahead of the Lilium Jet’s expected entry into service. Lilium already announced a number of partnerships for its services business, including flight training with Lufthansa Aviation Training, FlightSafety International, and global material services with AJW Group, as well as digital aircraft health management solutions with Palantir.
Decard is a Franco-German engineer, with degrees from TU Munich and Oxford University. He joined Lilium in 2018 and is currently VP Flight Operations & Customer Service, having previously served as Director Flight Test Spain. In his new role, he will report to Lilium’s Chief Commercial Officer, Sebastien Borel.
He has 20 years of experience in senior leadership positions in France, Germany, Spain, and UK in airline operations, the creation of production platforms and new business models, customer support organisations and market entry strategy development.
Decard added: “As we officially launch Lilium POWER-ON, our priority will be to test the full range of products and services to support our future operators during Lilium flight testing campaign and continue to contract and onboard the best partners for our working ecosystem.
“The services revenue and contribution margins will play a crucial role in Lilium’s profitability. I am excited to lead this organisation from the very beginning with a clear vision for our customers.”
The second announcement has seen Lilium partner with Star Charge to develop, customise, and provide charging systems for its Lilium Jets.
This agreement will see Lilium place a first order of 120 chargers for its ground and flight testing aircraft, as well as its aircraft maintenance and delivery centre activities. The company will also provide charging stations to its customers investing into vertiports.
Lilium previously announced its adoption of the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard for rapid charging. Star Charge’s customised, fast-charging system will be fully compatible with the Lilium Jets and other eVTOL aircraft compatible with CCS.
The chargers will feature an extra-long liquid cooled charging cable for high-performance charging, suitable for varied landing infrastructure. By using Star Charge’s CCS chargers, Lilium expects to reduce charging times significantly, in comparison to other chargers without liquid cooled charging cables.
Reduced charging times will support reduced turnaround times between flights and provide higher utilisation of the Lilium Jet.
Ji Cheng, Star Charge Europe CEO, said: “We are grateful to have received the first order of CCS chargers by a leading eVTOL manufacturer and look forward to commencing deliveries this year. We look forward to partnering with Lilium to power the next generation of mobility, offering greater time-saving benefits to passengers while considerably reducing the environmental impact of travel.”
Commenting on this announcement, Borel added: “Our partnership with Star Charge will support the Lilium Jet´s development and certification along with our customers’ ground infrastructure development. Its high performance and liquid cooled charging cable is a unique feature and Star Charge´s proven expertise in charging infrastructure is crucial for regional air mobility.“
Lilium began production of the Lilium Jet in late 2023, following its Design Organization Approval by EASA. As Lilium expects to enter into service in 2026 and as its global fleet size grows, Lilium expects material profit contribution in recurring revenue from its Aftermarket Service Business, including electrical chargers.
