May 08, 2026Marubeni Corporation
Marubeni has concluded a “Cooperation Agreement for the Realization of Commercial Operation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Industrial Development in Osaka” (hereinafter, the “Agreement”) with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, with the aim of mutually collaborating and promoting initiatives related to AAM in the Osaka–Kansai area. Marubeni also participated in the kick-off meeting toward realizing commercial AAM operations based at the OSAKAKO Vertiport, the first of several such meetings in which Marubeni will take part (hereinafter, the “Meetings”).
BackgroundThe Agreement and Meetings aim to increase public acceptance of AAM and to prepare for commercial operations and business development in the Osaka–Kansai area, including the Osaka Bay area. To date, Marubeni has been working toward the social implementation of AAM through market research in Japan, the acquisition of know-how necessary for commercial operations, and demonstration flights that contribute to improving public understanding and acceptance of AAM.
About the Agreement and MeetingsUnder the Agreement, Marubeni, Osaka Prefecture, and Osaka City will work to sustain the momentum generated by last year’s world expo, “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan,” and further increase public acceptance of AAM; realize AAM commercial operations and business development; revitalize related industries and the regional economy through collaboration with surrounding businesses; and explore applications for emergency medical services, disaster response, and other uses. The Meetings are being held as a forum for public–private collaboration to advance concrete business feasibility studies, with the OSAKAKO Vertiport as a core hub and with the goal of realizing commercialization in the Kansai region. Within the framework of the Meetings, Marubeni will examine potential destinations and routes, as well as consider the development of potential business approaches and models.
Future DevelopmentsThrough participation in the Agreement and Meetings, Marubeni will continue working toward the start of commercial AAM operations from FY2028 onward.
