The skies over London could soon get a lot more exciting.
Joby Aviation, the California-based electric air taxi company, announced an exclusive partnership with Virgin Atlantic on Saturday that it says will pave the way to launching its vehicles across the United Kingdom.
The partnership will see Joby’s services integrated into Virgin’s app and website, and connect passengers at Heathrow and Manchester airports. Passengers will be able to reserve a seat on a Joby air taxi using Virgin’s app, the companies say. The announcement did not say when service is expected to begin.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Joby to bring short-haul, zero-emission flights to airports and cities throughout the United Kingdom,” said Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic’s CEO, in a statement. “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 U.K. and to deliver greater connectivity for our customers.”
Up in the air
Joby’s air taxis, which have been shown off during exhibition flights in New York and other cities, are catching a lot of lift recently, with the company having inked deals with Uber, Delta Air Lines, and Toyota, along with raising hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.
While waiting for the green light to start operating in full in the United States and the U.K., Joby is expected to start carrying passengers in the UAE as early as this year.
Joby’s aircraft, known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, can carry four passengers plus a pilot, and travel at up to 200 miles per hour. That means rapid transit around the U.K. with absolutely no emissions.
While there is plenty of electricity in the air about these types of vehicles, they remain part of a speculative industry with regulatory hurdles and a ways to go before their path to the skies become clear.
Joby Aviation stock (NYSE: Joby) has reflected this cycle of hype versus uncertainty over the last few months, rising significantly in the weeks following the 2024 presidential election only to fall again this year. Shares are down 22% since the beginning of January.
Still, the company’s string of recent deals suggests it could very well defy gravity soon enough.
“Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to delighting its customers is unparalleled and we couldn’t imagine a better partner to work with in the U.K.,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby’s founder and CEO. “Together, we are committed to delivering faster options for mobility across the country, including for Virgin Atlantic customers to get to the airport and move between U.K. towns and cities.”
