Joby Aviation will partner with Virgin Atlantic to launch electric air taxis in the United Kingdom.
This marks the seventh country in which Joby plans to commercialize.
Partnering with airlines is one of the ways eVTOL companies can tap into the market.
According to this partnership, Joby will be Virgin’s exclusive airline distribution partner in the UK.
In a statement, Virgin said it would support Joby’s go-to-market efforts in the UK by marketing the service to customers, working with regulators, and helping to build support for the development of landing infrastructure at key airports.
USING AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
Joby already has an agreement with US-based Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to access eVTOL services that shuttle them from local vertiports directly to airport hubs.
Vertiports are infrastructures where eVTOLs take off, land, and charge.
The Virgin Atlantic partnership promises a similar network of landing sites across the UK.
However, Joby will start by connecting passengers from Virgin Atlantic’s hubs at London Heathrow and Manchester airports.
Joby Aviation’s eVTOL is designed to carry a pilot, four passengers, and some luggage.
It promises to fly at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, making a flight from Leeds to Manchester in 15 minutes.
JOBY AVIATION VIRGIN ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP
Joby has not yet provided a timeline for when it plans to launch its partnership with Virgin Atlantic.
However, a spokesperson for the company says it is likely to be after Joby launches in the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
The startup aims to launch a commercial service in the United States in 2025.
However, this date may be delayed until it obtains the necessary certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Joby will need to obtain certifications from the U.K. before it can launch services there.
The company applied to have its aircraft validated for use by the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority in July 2022.
