Joby to launch ‘affordable’ air taxi service by end of 2025

After a successful pilot flight across New York City, commercial air passenger service, Joby Aviation, has revealed plans to launch its air taxi service in two years’ time.

The aircraft was flown from the iconic Downtown Heliport in Manhattan, marking the city’s first electric air taxi flight and the first time Joby has flown in an urban setting.

According to the eVOTL company, customers can expect fast, quiet journeys using its piloted, four-passenger electric aircraft which it claims has zero operating emissions.

The aircraft will operate back-to-back flights — up to 100 miles on a single charge — covering nearly all trips taken today across New York City’s five boroughs.

While traveling from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) can take more than an hour by car, Joby expects the trip to take just seven minutes by air.

“We plan to make quiet, emissions-free flight an affordable, everyday reality for New Yorkers, while significantly reducing the impact of helicopter noise,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation.

Electric Air Mobility ready for lift off

According to Joby, its aircraft was designed to have a radically lower acoustic footprint than today’s helicopters, allowing it to operate in densely populated areas such as New York City.

In 2022, Joby collaborated with NASA to measure the sound of its aircraft, confirming it registered the equivalent of 45.2 A-weighted decibels (dBA) when flying overhead at an altitude of 1640 feet (500 meters) — quieter than a typical conversation.

New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, voiced his support for adoption of quiet flights, announcing the city’s intention to electrify the Downtown Heliport.

According to Bevirt, by electrifying one of the most famous heliports in the world, New York is demonstrating global leadership in the adoption of electric air travel.

New York City Economic Development Corporation president and CEO Andrew Kimball said: “EDC’s new strategy for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport reflects these priorities while making it an industry leader in the embrace of eVTOLS — a quieter and greener helicopter alternative — while at the same time facilitating maritime freight with last mile e-bike deliveries that takes trucks off the roads.”

Joby is working closely with the Port Authority of New York and the EDC as they plan for initial operations, including the development of infrastructure at JFK and LaGuardia International Airport (LGA).

The news follows competitor Wisk Aero’s successful test flight across LA in October.