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Joby brings electric air taxis to NYC in week-long campaign
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey worked with Joby Aviation to make the eVTOL flights possible, advancing the path to commercial operations.
At a glance
Who: Joby Aviation; Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
What: Joby has announced completion of the first-ever point-to-point electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi trial flights across New York City.
Why: It is part of a 10-day flight campaign that aims to showcase how electric air taxis will be able to connect the region, linking vertiports, international airports, and communities across the New York metropolitan area.
Where: The eVTOL departed from John F Kennedy International Airport and landed across the city’s existing heliport network, including Downtown Skyport, and the West 30th Street and East 34th Street Heliports in Midtown.
Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, has announced completion of the first-ever point-to-point electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi trial flights across New York City.
The 10-day flight campaign aims to showcase how electric air taxis, which are quiet and produce zero operating emissions, will be able to connect the region, linking vertiports, international airports, and communities across the New York metropolitan area.
Existing heliport network
Joby’s aircraft (N545JX) departed from John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and landed across the city’s existing heliport network, including Downtown Skyport, and the West 30th Street and East 34th Street Heliports in Midtown, home to Blade Air Mobility’s premium passenger lounges.
Together, these sites trace some of the commercial routes the company envisions for New York, connecting Lower Manhattan and Midtown to JFK in under 10 minutes, Joby claims.
Led by the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and in partnership with Skyports Infrastructure and Vertiports by Atlantic, New York City’s heliport infrastructure will be electrified in anticipation of the launch of commercial air taxi service.
“These historic Joby flights, linking our city-owned heliport to our airports, are proof that the future of advanced air mobility is no longer a Jetsons-esque fantasy – it’s already here,” said NYCEDC interim president and CEO Jeanny Pak.
“NYCEDC is thrilled to usher in New York City’s transition to electric flight, and these flights mark a real milestone in that journey. 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.”
“This cutting-edge aircraft is exactly the kind of innovation we have a responsibility to test, understand, and help shape for the good of the region and the public”
Central to Joby’s New York strategy was the 2025 acquisition of Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Joby. Blade’s operational expertise, broad base of passenger infrastructure in Manhattan and at key New York area airports enabled it to serve more than 90,000 passengers in 2025.
Joby reports that Blade provides the foundation for commercial electric air taxi service at scale and will accelerate the city’s transition from the use of helicopters to quiet and emission-free aircraft.
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Through partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber, Joby aims to create a seamless, end-to-end experience that connects ground transportation and air travel in a single journey. In a city where a typical commuter lost, by one estimate, 102 hours to traffic congestion in 2025, Joby’s goal is to reclaim that time by transforming a 60-to-120-minute drive to JFK into a seven-minute flight.
“The bridges, tunnels, airports, and rail lines that the Port Authority operates move hundreds of millions of people through this region every year, and our job is to make sure that network keeps pace with the future,” said Port Authority chairman Kevin O’Toole.
“This cutting-edge aircraft is exactly the kind of innovation we have a responsibility to test, understand, and help shape for the good of the region and the public. These flights advance our work to determine how next-generation aviation technology can serve the people of New York and New Jersey.”
“These historic Joby flights, linking our city-owned heliport to our airports, are proof that the future of advanced air mobility is no longer a Jetsons-esque fantasy – it’s already here”
These campaign flights are also intended to celebrate the March announcement of New York being selected under the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Programme (eIPP), established by executive order, which aims to accelerate commercial rollout of this next generation of air transportation across the US. Joby was named a partner on five selected projects, spanning 12 states.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is the lead partner behind one of the selected projects and the agency responsible for much of the region’s critical transportation infrastructure including airports, bridges, tunnels, and the seaport. It worked closely with the FAA, Joby, and other eVTOL Integration Pilot Programme (eIPP) partners to make these flights possible, bringing the programme’s goals to life by integrating quiet, emissions-free air taxi service at one of the US’s busiest airports.
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How will eVTOL charging infrastructure integrate with existing heliports and airports?What noise-reduction standards must eVTOLs meet for urban operations?How can air traffic management safely accommodate high-frequency eVTOL flights?Which regulatory milestones are required to certify commercial eVTOL passenger service?How will integrating eVTOLs with ground transit reduce regional congestion?AAMair qualityAirportcongestionelectric vehiclesEnergy & EnvironmenteVTOLmobilityNew YorkPortsTransport hubs
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