We are about to witness a new revolution in urban air travel — an era of efficient, quiet, and sustainable transportation.
Virgin Atlantic is partnering with California-based Joby Aviation to launch electric air taxi passenger service in UK. This is the future of air travel -designed for people who want to spend less time traveling and more time living.
It’s a faster, cleaner, and smarter way to carry people through their lives. According to Joby Aviation this would feel more like getting into an SUV than boarding a plane.
The Atlantic – Joby Aviation aerial ridesharing service will combine the ease of conventional ridesharing with the power of flight. It will be a green alternative to driving and bookable at the touch of an app.
The innovative electric air taxis will have six tilting propellers for quiet, vertical take-offs and landings. Designed for rapid, back-to-back flights connecting routes up to 100 miles.
The air taxis will be able to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph.
The aim is to offer seamless, zero-emission, short-range journeys across the UK, starting with regional and city connections from Virgin Atlantic’s hubs at Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
As a result flights between London’s Canary Wharf and Heathrow Airport may take just 8 minutes instead of a tiring 80-minute journey by car. Similarly the flight from Manchester Airport to Leeds will take just 15-minutes.
Joby has completed thousands of test flights, including exhibition flights in New York City, Japan and Korea. Joby expects to build a network of landing locations that offer rapid and convenient travel around cities and communities throughout the UK with fares comparable to existing premium ground ridesharing options at launch.
According to JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, “Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to delighting its customers is unparalleled and we couldn’t imagine a better partner to work with in the UK. Together, we are committed to delivering faster options for mobility across the country, including for Virgin Atlantic and Delta customers as they head to the airport or move between UK towns and cities.”
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said, “As a leader in sustainability and with innovation firmly in our DNA, we are delighted to be partnering with Joby to bring short-haul, zero-emission flight to airports and cities throughout the UK. Our strategic partnership combines Joby’s expertise in design, engineering and technology with the power of Virgin Atlantic’s brand and award-winning customer experience. We look forward to working together to bring Joby’s service to the UK and to deliver greater connectivity for our customers.”
Virgin Atlantic will market the service to their customers, engaging regulators alongside Joby and helping to build support for the development of landing infrastructure at key airports.
Joby Aviation a company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, has also signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in the UAE by early 2026, with Joby targeting initial operations as early as 2025.
The agreement, was signed at the World Governments Summit in Dubai in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, providing Joby with the exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years.
This will position Dubai as a world leader in delivering the fast, clean and quiet air travel enabled by Joby’s revolutionary technology. The agreement secures a variety of support from the RTA, including financial mechanisms, for entry and maturing of service operations in Dubai.
Also Read: Are eVTOL & sVTOL the future of military aviation?
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors for RTA, commented on the agreement, saying, “the air taxi service is part of RTA’s efforts to embrace future transportation technologies and offers a novel and efficient mobility option for Dubai’s residents and visitors, enabling fast, safe, and convenient travel to key city spots. This service will also enhance seamless multimodal transportation, improving citywide connectivity, and ensuring a smooth travel experience for passengers.”
In November 2023, Joby’s aircraft became the first electric air taxi to fly in New York City
