Starting in 2026, Uber users near New York City and Southern Europe may be able to book helicopter rides through the Uber app, thanks to a new partnership with Blade Air Mobility. This follows Joby Aviation’s recent acquisition of Blade’s passenger division, marking progress in urban air travel options.
Joby confirmed that Blade’s helicopters will appear on Uber’s platform, likely on busy routes such as airport transfers. Blade’s medical transport services remain independent and were not part of the acquisition.
Uber and Joby see this as a precursor to eventually adding Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to Uber’s ride-hailing network. Joby aims to launch its first commercial eVTOL flights in Dubai in 2026, with plans to expand to the U.S. and other regions later.
Blade’s helicopters have been offered on Uber in limited trials before, and Joby acquired Uber’s “Elevate” air taxi division in 2020, which helped establish it as a leading eVTOL developer.
Joby went public in 2021 and has raised significant investment, including from Toyota, with Uber holding about 2.5% of the company.
While Joby has maintained its position, competitors like Germany’s Volocopter and Lilium have shut down, and Hyundai-owned Supernal recently paused its eVTOL programme after key departures.