Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Virgin Atlantic stepped up its plans to provide eVTOL air-taxi services by formalizing its alliance with Joby Aviation this week at the Farnborough Airshow. The companies now have a binding, multiyear agreement running in tandem with a similar deal with major Virgin shareholder Delta Air Lines, building on a 2025 commitment.

The UK-based airline will give its passengers access to Joby’s app- and website-based booking platforms, allowing them to secure air taxi rides to connect with long-haul flights. Joby plans to launch services to Virgin’s hubs at London Heathrow and Manchester airports.

Routes such as central London to Heathrow and Leeds to Manchester are expected to take 8 and 15 minutes, respectively, instead of over an hour by car. The partners did not release prices for flights in Joby’s four-passenger eVTOLs or say when the service would begin.

California-based Joby will have full responsibility for aircraft operations and route management after securing regulatory approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority and has said it wants to launch other routes in the country. Virgin, which previously had an agreement with rival eVTOL manufacturer Vertical Aerospace, is handling ground infrastructure and marketing.