Aviation News – Joby Aviation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Red Sea Global (RSG) and The Helicopter Company (THC) to launch pre-commercial evaluation flights of its electric air taxi in Saudi Arabia in early 2026.
The agreement marks a significant step toward introducing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) services in the Kingdom. Joby, a leading U.S. developer of electric air taxis, will work alongside RSG and THC to assess operational needs, infrastructure requirements, and potential routes ahead of future commercial deployment.
The evaluation program will test Joby’s electric air taxi under real-world conditions, including its vertical take-off capabilities, low-noise profile, and short-range connectivity between key destinations. These operational insights will help determine how the aircraft can support sustainable mobility initiatives and boost regional transport efficiency.
Announcing the agreement, Joby Aviation said the collaboration “lays the groundwork for bringing quiet, emissions-free air travel to one of the world’s most ambitious tourism and sustainability developments.”
Looking forward, the partners aim to position the Kingdom as a regional leader in next-generation air mobility. The 2026 test flights are expected to guide decisions on infrastructure investment, regulatory planning, and long-term fleet deployment.
The partnership underscores growing global interest in electric air taxis and signals a major step toward integrating eVTOL technology into future transportation networks. As development accelerates, Saudi Arabia could become one of the first markets to showcase large-scale electric air mobility.
