United, Delta, and Republic Airways see AAM as a solution to infrastructure, access, and efficiency challenges
At the AUVSI Drone and AAM Policy Symposium held in Washington, D.C., on July 29–30, 2025, aviation and policy leaders gathered to discuss the future of flight. One panel focused on why some of the biggest names in manned aviation—United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Republic Airways—are placing major bets on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
Airlines Look to Solve Access and Congestion
Bobby Fraser, Head of Regulatory Affairs & Policy at United Airlines, explained that AAM could help solve a core problem for major carriers: getting customers to and from hard-to-reach hubs in congested cities, like Newark, Dulles, and O’Hare.
“Part of United’s innovation efforts is a focus on advanced air mobility,” said Fraser. “We have some hubs that are just hard to get to.” United’s investment arm has taken stakes in companies like Archer and Eve Air Mobility, and also backs other innovative and alternative aircraft players, including ZeroAvia and Boom Supersonic. The investment goes beyond money. Using United’s resources and identity as a world class air carrier provides a level of legitimacy with regulators and investors “We allow them to use our name, our livery – showing that this is real,” says Fraser.
Republic Airways’ Director of AAM, Charles Cope, sees AAM as a way to reconnect underserved cities with the national airspace. “Our goal is to restore access to many communities and cities that have lost that access,” he said. “eVTOL represents a way to do that—but it must be quiet and community-friendly.” They work with all of the eVTOL OEMs, and have relationships with firms including Beta Technologies and Embraer – backed Eve.
Delta’s Director of Policy Jana Lozano emphasized the airline’s focus on operational resilience. “We’ve seen plenty of change in the last 100 years,” said Lozano. Delta has already begun using small drones for non-safety-critical inspections and was the first U.S. airline authorized to incorporate drone inspection into its FAA manual. Now, they’ve formed relationships with AAM carriers like Joby and JetZero to ensure that they are ready to take advantage of new technology as it emerges.
Building a Path Forward: Challenges and Opportunities
Peter Irvine of the U.S. Department of Transportation, moderating the panel, posed the core question: What will AAM deliver for Americans—and how do we get there?
Fraser pointed to safety as the top priority. “We’re not going to start this in Manhattan,” he said. “But look at places like Houston— it has less congested airspace and room to grow. That could be an option. It’s going to start small, where risk is lower, but demand exists.”
Cope noted that aircraft and airspace access must evolve together. “Between Class B airspace and 400 feet is where we live. What we’re selling is time. That means we need airport access and infrastructure to save that time.”
Jana Lozano agreed. “We’re taking a crawl-walk-run approach. We bring our safety management experience to the table—but we can’t afford to overwhelm the system. It has to be right from the beginning.”
Infrastructure, Certification, and Public Confidence
All panelists agreed that developing AAM means working closely with regulators, airports, and communities.
Cope noted that communities often reject helicopters due to noise. “We’re engaging with those communities early, because this is going to depend on infrastructure. You need facilities for charging, airspace access, and local support.”
Fraser said United is focused on partnering with regional operators and OEMs to bring safe and effective aircraft into service. “We’re doing what we’ve always done—just with a new type of aircraft.”
Aircraft certification for these new vehicles remains a challenge but also presents an opportunity. “OEMs see U.S. certification standards as the gold standard,” said Cope. “They’re listening. I’m confident we have a strong template to move forward.”
Fraser added, “We’re supporting our partners through the certification process. This isn’t about shortcuts—it’s about doing it right.”
The Role of Government: ATC and Beyond
The panel all agrees that the modernization of air traffic control (ATC) is essential to scaling AAM.
“ATC is the most important thing,” said Fraser. “But so is messaging. This is a national priority. It’s a competitiveness issue.”
About ATC modernization, Lozano added, “We need to think big picture. What do users of today need? How does that incorporate new entrants? We need to be capability-focused.”
Cope advocated for open collaboration. “Some of the avionics we’ve seen are amazing. Government needs to keep doors open, work with what the industry has built, and come up with joint solutions.”
From Innovation to Reality
The panelists made it clear: AAM isn’t just hype. Major airlines are investing because they see real solutions for their most pressing problems—congestion, community access, efficiency, and customer experience.
“This is just another part of flying,” said Fraser. As AAM moves from concept to operation, airlines, OEMs, and government agencies must continue working together to ensure that the next generation of aviation meets the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and accessibility.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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