UK Air Taxi Project: Joby Aviation Secures Vertical Aerospace Deal from Virgin Group
Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic Team Up to Bring Electric Air Taxis to the UK
Exciting news, folks! Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic have joined forces to bring electric air taxis to the UK, but hold your horses, we're still waiting on those certifications and approvals.
But hey, this isn't Joby's first rodeo. They previously partnered with British Vertical Aerospace in 2021, a deal that seemed to fizzle out in November. A spokesperson assured me Vertical Aerospace has been MIA with Virgin for quite some time.
So, what's the new scoop? Joby's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft will be used from Virgin Atlantic's hubs at Heathrow and Manchester airports for short trips to link up regions, hitting speeds of 200 mph and covering routes up to 100 miles.
Virgin Atlantic will lend a helping hand with marketing the service, building support for the creation of landing infrastructure at essential airports, and collaborating with regulators - because, of course, we're not there yet. Joby submitted the UK certification application back in 2022.
Prices are expected to be on par with premium ground ridesharing options, although significantly less than the £100 you'd pay for an UberX. The Manchester Airport to Leeds route, which might necessitate two changes and take two hours, is particularly appealing, considering flying taxis could be a game changer for linking up the UK's northern regions, often overlooked by rail services.
But, who are these services for?
Questionable traffic alleviation comes to mind when we consider who these services aim to benefit. If the objective is to replace cars from Heathrow to Canary Wharf, it's clear these are tailored for business travelers shying away from sharing space on the train or getting stuck in traffic in a private car - much like helicopters are currently used in London for the über-rich.
British citizens might take issue with filling the skies with noisy flying taxis. Although they are quieter than helicopters and zero-emission, London currently only possesses one public helipad, near Battersea, with strict controls on helicopter flights. Previous attempts to add a floating helipad have faced protests from residents about noise levels.
The Future of Joby Aviation's Air Taxis
Joby has made headway with US certification, although the Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily halted eVTOL rule rollout due to a request from President Trump. Depending on the fate of these regulations and final approvals, passenger flights could kick off later this year or early next year, following similar timelines in the UAE. Launch dates for the planned UK service remain cryptic, but Joby promised to follow the US and UAE launches.
Globally, Joby has ambitious plans to debut air taxis in South Korea, Japan, India, and Australia, all contingent on certification and local regulatory approval. Joby and American rival Archer Aviation appear to be the frontrunners in this developing market, as European companies like Lilium and Volocopter face funding challenges. Vertical Aerospace, the UK's local player, plans to conduct flight tests this year, with orders on the books[3].
Updated to include Vertical Aerospace comment and CAA response.
- Joby Aviation's partnership with Virgin Atlantic is reportedly extending its aerospace ventures, as they aim to establish standards for electric air taxis in the UK, using their eVTOL aircraft from Virgin's hubs at Heathrow and Manchester airports.
- The Joby Manchester Network, a collaboration with Virgin Atlantic, plans to link up regions with short trips, hitting speeds of 200 mph and covering routes up to 100 miles, potentially easing transportation concerns between the UK's northern regions.
- As Joby Aviation's air taxi services expand globally, they are expected to face regulatory hurdles in various countries, following the UK's certification application submitted in 2022.
