Uber users living near New York City or Southern Europe may have a new travel option to pick from in 2026: helicopters.
The San Francisco-based company said Wednesday that it will team with Joby Aviation, a maker of electric air taxis, to bring helicopter services to its platform as soon as next year. The announcement comes just over a month after Joby acquired Blade Air Mobility, which flies passengers by helicopter and seaplanes, in a $125 million deal.
Uber and Joby are billing this as a step towards eventually launching Joby’s air taxis on the ride-hail network. But that’s still a ways away. Joby plans to launch its first commercial service in 2026 in Dubai, with other markets including in the U.S. set to follow after.
All three companies involved in the announcement have existing relationships.
Blade was acquired by Joby last month, and its helicopters have actually been on Uber’s platform before, although only in limited promotional offerings.
Blade's website shows that it offers flights between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York or Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey for $195. Last year, Blade flew 50,000 passengers in the New York metropolitan area and Southern Europe, according to the companies.
"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," JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said in a statement.
Blade operates a fleet of helicopters powered by jet turbines but plans to transition to all-electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts in the future, the spokesperson said.
Uber and Joby's business relationship dates back to 2019, when Joby acquired Uber's Elevate division, which is building an aerial ride-sharing service using what's known as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.