Joby to integrate Blade’s air mobility service into Uber app 

What once seemed like the stuff of science fiction — booking a flying taxi using a smartphone app — is now one step closer to reality. 

Joby Aviation and Uber Technologies said they plan to make Blade’s passenger flights bookable directly through the Uber app as soon as 2026. The capability signals a positive development in the companies’ plans to introduce electric air taxis to urban markets. 

The announcement comes weeks after Joby closed its acquisition of Blade’s passenger business in August 2025 for a $125 million. Blade said it flew more than 50,000 passengers in 2024 across routes mainly in the New York metropolitan area and in Southern Europe, with popular destinations including Manhattan, the Hamptons on Long Island, and major New York area airports such as John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (EWR). 

Joby intends to leverage Blade’s established network of lounges and landing sites to accelerate the rollout of its own all-electric aircraft, which is designed to carry four passengers and a pilot at speeds up to 200 mph. According to the company, the eVTOL produces an acoustic footprint 100 times quieter than a conventional helicopter. 

“We’re excited to introduce Uber customers to the magic of seamless urban air travel,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “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.” 

Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s president and COO, added: “Since Uber’s earliest days, we’ve believed in the power of advanced air mobility to deliver safe, quiet, and sustainable transportation to cities around the world. By harnessing the scale of the Uber platform and partnering with Joby, the industry leader in advanced air mobility, we’re excited to bring our customers the next generation of travel.” 

Joby and Uber have been collaborating on urban air mobility since 2019, when Uber created its Elevate division. Joby acquired Elevate in 2021, gaining its expertise in market analysis, demand forecasting, and linking air taxis with ground transportation.

The companies said the next stage of integration will allow Uber users to book Blade-operated helicopter flights through the app starting next year. Over time, those flights are expected to transition to Joby’s electric air taxis in key markets including New York, Los Angeles, Dubai, the United Kingdom, and Japan. 

Blade runs an “asset-light” model, relying on partnerships with a broad network of vetted aircraft operators rather than owning or flying the aircraft itself. Those partners are evaluated for safety, operational standards, and financial strength. Blade’s strategy is to leave the flying, aircraft storage and maintenance to its partners, while it concentrates on developing passenger terminals, technology platforms, and a brand that travelers recognize.  Joby’s aircraft is powered by six tilting rotors, each driven by its own electric motor to provide both vertical lift and efficient forward flight. The distributed electric propulsion system not only reduces noise compared with conventional helicopters but also offers redundancy, since the aircraft can continue operating safely even if one motor fails. Range is predicted to be about 150 miles on a single charge, or about one hour of endurance.  Joby said it is in the final stages of obtaining FAA certification for its aircraft. In August 2025, the company completed its first flight between to US airports. Joby plans to begin flight testing with FAA pilots early in 2026 and initiate passenger service soon after obtaining certification.    For a traveler in Manhattan, the integration with Uber could make booking a Joby flight seem little different from hailing an Uber vehicle today. A few taps in the Uber app would present the option to trade bumper-to-bumper traffic for a five-minute air-taxi ride to JFK or EWR. The journey could start with a rideshare car pickup, continue through a Blade lounge and landing site, and finish with a swift hop across the skyline in Joby’s electric aircraft — all arranged, paid for, and tracked in the same app millions of travelers already use every day. The post Joby to integrate Blade’s air mobility service into Uber app  appeared first on AeroTime.

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