Aviation News – Joby and Uber Partner to Expand Urban Air Travel Access
Joby Aviation and Uber announced plans to integrate Blade’s air mobility services into the Uber app as early as next year, following Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business in August 2025. The move signals a major step toward mainstreaming urban air travel in some of the world’s busiest cities.
Blade, which flew more than 50,000 passengers in 2024 across New York and Southern Europe, operates routes linking airports such as Newark and JFK with Manhattan, as well as seasonal destinations like the Hamptons. The acquisition allows Joby to leverage Blade’s established network and infrastructure to accelerate the rollout of its own electric air taxi service worldwide, including markets in Dubai, Los Angeles, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
Joby’s electric air taxi, designed to carry four passengers and a pilot at speeds of up to 200 mph, offers a significantly quieter and cleaner alternative to helicopters, with an acoustic footprint 100 times lower and zero emissions. Integrating Blade flights into Uber’s app will enable passengers to seamlessly book air and ground transportation for faster, more efficient travel across congested metropolitan areas.
“We’re excited to introduce Uber customers to the magic of seamless urban air travel,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership with Uber and will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead.”
Uber executives underscored the importance of the partnership, noting that advanced air mobility has been a company vision since its early years. The collaboration with Joby, which acquired Uber’s Elevate division in 2021, reinforces their long-term goal of providing safe, sustainable, and scalable air travel options in cities around the world.
Once integrated, Blade passengers will be able to book flights directly through the Uber app, transforming how travelers move between city centers and airports. With Joby’s air taxi technology advancing toward commercial launch, the partnership positions both companies at the forefront of the next era in global urban mobility.
