Joby, Virgin Atlantic “Announce Collaboration for Future UK Electric Air Taxi Service”
Joby Aviation has recently announced a collaboration with Virgin Atlantic, to launch the U.S eVTOL company’s air taxi service in the UK, reports a press release.
The partnership builds on an existing agreement between Joby and Delta Air Lines, which owns a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic, to launch services in the U.S and UK, uniting the brands committed to innovation, customer service and challenging the status quo.
The release explains, “The collaboration aims to offer seamless, zero-emission, short-range journeys across the UK, starting with regional and city connections from Virgin Atlantic’s hubs at Heathrow and Manchester Airport. Virgin will support Joby’s go-to-market efforts in the UK through marketing the service to their customers, engaging regulators alongside Joby and helping to build support for the development of landing infrastructure at key airports.”
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, commented, “Together, we are committed to delivering faster options for mobility across the country, including for Virgin Atlantic and Delta customers as they head to the airport or move between UK towns and cities.” Adding, “We couldn’t imagine a better partner to work with in the UK.”
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, remarked, “As a leader in sustainability and with innovation firmly in our DNA, we are delighted to be partnering with Joby to bring short-haul, zero-emission flight to airports and cities throughout the UK. Our strategic partnership combines Joby’s expertise in design, engineering and technology with the power of Virgin Atlantic’s brand and award-winning customer experience.”
The release continues, “Journeys in the UK could include a 15-minute flight from Manchester Airport to Leeds, or an 8-minute journey from Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf, instead of 80 minutes by car. Over time, Joby expects to build out a network of landing locations that offer rapid and convenient travel around cities and communities throughout the UK. Joby expects to offer prices that are comparable with existing premium ground ride-sharing options at launch.”
Shai Weiss, JoeBen Bevirt
In 2022, Joby and Delta Air Lines announced a multi-city, commercial and operational partnership to pioneer community-to-airport transportation for customers. While the Joby/Delta partnership is mutually exclusive across the U.S and UK for at least five years following commercial launch, the partnership has been extended to include Virgin Atlantic in the UK.
Background
Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact. In November 2023, the airline led a consortium to deliver the world’s first flight across the Atlantic on 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), demonstrating that SAF can be used safely in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes.
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(Images: Joby Aviation)
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