Uber announced plans to offer Blade helicopter rides through its app starting as early as 2026 via an expanded partnership with Joby Aviation. The move follows Joby’s $125 million acquisition of Blade, an established helicopter company that transported over 50,000 passengers from 12 city terminals last year. Blade currently charges $195 for flights from Manhattan to nearby airports. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt called the Uber integration a “natural next step” in their partnership, which began in 2019 when Uber sold its Elevate flying taxi division to Joby in 2020. Uber president Andrew Macdonald described the partnership as the “next generation of travel.” The air taxi industry faces regulatory hurdles with Federal Aviation Administration approval still pending. Uber promises to reveal booking details closer to launch, teasing “rapid and seamless journeys in some of the most populated cities in the world.” (Story URL)
PHONE TOPIC: Tell us about your best/worst experience with an Uber driver