Uber users living near New York City or Southern Europe may soon have a new travel option to choose from. By 2026, they could be booking helicopter rides directly through the Uber app.
Electric air taxi startup Joby Aviation announced that Blade Air Mobility helicopters will be available on Uber as soon as next year. While Joby did not specify the exact initial locations, the company indicated the helicopters will likely appear on the most popular routes, such as trips to and from airports.
This development follows Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business just one month ago for as much as $125 million. It is important to note that Blade’s medical division, which specializes in transporting live organs, remained a separate company and was not part of the deal.
Uber and Joby are presenting this partnership as a step toward eventually launching Joby’s own electric air taxis on the ride-hail network. However, that future is still some time away. Joby plans to launch its first commercial air taxi service in 2026 in Dubai, with other markets, including the United States, expected to follow afterward.
The three companies involved have a history of collaboration. Blade was acquired by Joby last month, and its helicopters have previously been available on Uber’s platform in limited promotional offerings. Joby itself acquired Uber’s “Elevate” air taxi division back in 2020. This acquisition provided a significant boost to Joby’s plans for developing electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, helping it become a leader among eVTOL startups. Joby went public in 2021 by merging with a special purpose acquisition company and has since raised hundreds of millions of dollars with backing from major companies like Toyota. Uber currently owns approximately 2.5 percent of Joby.
While Joby has thrived, many of its competitors have not fared as well. Companies such as Germany’s Volocopter and Lilium have gone out of business. Meanwhile, Hyundai-owned Supernal is facing its own challenges and recently paused its aircraft program.