Joby Aviation and Uber Partner to Launch Air Taxis in 2026

Joby Aviation has partnered with Uber Technologies to integrate Blade Air Mobility’s helicopter and seaplane services into the Uber app. This follows Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business in August 2025.

Starting in 2026, Uber users can book Blade’s helicopter flights directly within the app.

Joby plans to launch the commercial electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) service first in Dubai, New York, Los Angeles, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Joby’s eVTOL aircraft are designed to carry four passengers plus a pilot. They can travel at speeds up to 200 miles per hour and have a noise footprint significantly lower than that of traditional helicopters.

Blade will continue to run its existing helicopter services until Joby’s eVTOL flying taxis receive FAA certification.

Blade’s network served over 50,000 passengers throughout 2024, servicing popular routes around the New York metropolitan region and Southern Europe, including key hubs like Newark Liberty International Airport, JFK Airport, Manhattan, and the Hamptons.

In spring 2025, NASA conducted flight tests, exploring 5G cellular networks to support connectivity for future air taxi operations. The project was part of NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility mission, which focuses on developing scalable infrastructure for urban air transport.

Photo by Greg Wilson on Unsplash