Uber to Introduce Helicopter Services, What’s Next?

Ride hiring platform Uber is set to launch helicopter rides to customers. The San Francisco-based company is teaming up with electric air taxis maker, Joby Aviation, to offer the services by next year.

Significantly, the development comes after Joby acquired Blade Air Mobility, which already allows passengers to use helicopters and seaplanes, in a $125 million deal.

According to a press release, in 2024, Blade flew more than 50,000 passengers in various routes in New York metropolitan area and Southern Europe, including high-traffic destinations like Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Manhattan and the Hamptons.

Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt said they are excited to make Uber customers feel the magic of seamless urban air travel.

Once the services of Blade and Uber are integrated, passengers will be able to book flights directly in the Uber app in the ‘most populated cities in the world.”

Uber and Joby, reportedly, are planning to launch the services to airports. Airport connections would be appealing to consumers. The airport routes have been identified as some of the highest value propositions to the public, Joby spokesperson said. The chopper services between the major airports will help introduce the quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead, Bevirt said.