Joby Aviation announces week-long air taxi campaign in New York

Joby Aviation has announced the completion of New York's first-ever point-to-point eVTOL air taxi demonstration flight. The demonstration eVTOL first departed from the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and made multiple landings across the city's existing heliport network, including Downtown Skyport, and the West 30th Street and East 34th Street Heliports in Midtown. These sites are part of some of the potential routes Joby plans for its air taxi service in the city. "New York has always been a city that defines the future by demanding better," said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby founder and CEO. "We first flew here in 2023, and now we're showing what the next chapter looks like: a quiet, zero operating emissions air taxi service designed to better serve New Yorkers. This week, flying between JFK and Manhattan, we showed what the White House-backed eIPP initiative makes possible and offered New York a look at what's coming." The flights are the start of a public campaign across the city's heliport network. The campaign will last a week and will act as the first real-world demonstration on how the electric air taxis will connect the New York metropolitan area. Joby states that its 2025 acquisition of Blade Air Mobility's passenger business in 2025 is key to its strategy in the city. Its broad base of passenger infrastructure and operational expertise will provide the foundation for its commercial taxi service. "We operate some of the busiest airports in the world, and with that comes a responsibility to think seriously about what aviation looks like in the decades ahead for our passengers, for our communities, and for the environment," said Kathryn Garcia, Port Authority Executive Director. "These demonstration flights are one data point in a larger body of work we're building around next-generation electric aviation, and it reflects our conviction that responsible exploration of these technologies now is how we prepare this region for the future." RELATED STORIES: Joby completes piloted electric air taxi flight across San Francisco Bay Joby announces first FAA-conforming eVTOL takes first flight DOT announces projects selected for U.S. eVTOL Integration Pilot Program Joby was selected to be part of the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) on March 9. The eIPP was established by executive order and is designed to allow mature eVTOL aircraft to demonstrate uses, such as transportation, cargo, and emergency response, before receiving FAA certification. More than 30 proposals were submitted and were evaluated by a technical review team based on the ability to accelerate the integration of AAM aircraft, the breadth of operational concepts, potential insights, experience in aircraft development or manufacturing, and the strength of partnerships. The DOT claims these pilot projects will create one of the largest real-world testing environments for next-generation aircraft. The data will be used by the FAA to develop regulations for AAM flights. Operations are expected to begin in under this program by summer 2026 and will span 26 states. "These historic Joby flights, linking our city-owned heliport to our airports, is proof that the future of advanced air mobility is no longer a Jetsons-esque fantasy - it's already here," said Jeanny Pak, NYCEDC interim president and CEO. "NYCEDC is thrilled to usher in New York City's transition to electric flight, and these flights mark a real milestone in that journey. Building on the progress we've made alongside Downtown Skyport and Atlantic Aviation since Joby last flew in NYC skies by upgrading the city-owned heliports to support eVTOL charging infrastructure and Blue Highways maritime delivery, NYCEDC is making New York a more sustainable, greener, and innovative transportation landscape for all New Yorkers."