An integrated optimization framework for urban air mobility: Planning vertiports, fleet size, and routes for eVTOL operations with application in Dubai

The introduction of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft (eVTOLs) as airport shuttle services offers the potential to reduce congestion and deliver significant time savings. For eVTOLs to become operational, proper infrastructure must be in place in terms of vertiport locations and fleet size. eVTOLs have limited passenger capacity and operate with batteries requiring recharging. Developing a model to determine optimal vertiport placement, fleet size, vehicle assignments, trip schedules, and recharging plans is therefore critical to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) success. To tackle this challenge, we present an optimization approach based on a modified profit-collecting location-routing mixed-integer programming model with partial recharging and multi-trips. The formulation incorporates a battery discharge function dependent on eVTOL speed and traveled distance, multi-trip operations within the planning horizon, and trip-level profit based on passenger proximity to a destination. Using data from the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, we conduct comprehensive numerical analysis examining the impact of eVTOL speed on vertiport locations and profitability. We further quantify the impact of eVTOL type, recharging infrastructure design, demand levels, and autonomy levels on system performance. Four key policy implications emerge: (i) investing in vertiport recharging infrastructure is only justified when trip energy consumption exceeds battery capacity; (ii) nonautonomous operations remain economically superior under current acceptance levels despite higher pilot costs; (iii) higher cruise speeds do not always increase profits due to greater energy consumption; and (iv) the proposed joint optimization approach outperforms heuristic planning by 4%–30%. • A joint optimization model for fleet sizing, vertiport siting, routing, and recharging of eVTOLs. • Incorporates partial recharging, speed-dependent battery discharge, and multi-trip operations. • Real-world case study in Dubai International Airport using data from Dubai Road and Transport Authority. • Results show 10%–30% higher profit versus heuristic or peak-demand planning strategies. • Policy insights on eVTOL speed, autonomy, and recharging infrastructure investment.