Passenger helicopter flight provider Blade has launched what it describes as “the largest urban air mobility initiative (UAM)” in the U.S., with the announcement that it will offer continuous daytime shuttle flights in New York, between midtown Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The per-seat service, which will run on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. using a Bell 206L-4 operated by Zip Aviation, will fly between Blade’s lounge at the West 30th Street Heliport and the JFK helipad, with ground transportation then linking to the airline terminals, for $195 per passenger.
According to Blade, that cost is comparable to that for car service on the same route during rush hour but at a fraction of the time. At JFK, Blade will soon open a counter in the lobby of the TWA Hotel.
“The heavy traffic between urban centers and area airports is a key point of friction in city life,” said Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal. “Our UAM service begins to remedy this issue at a reasonable price today, while paving the way for even more affordable solutions tomorrow driven by our partners’ next-generation electric aircraft.”
Earlier this year, Blade announced an agreement with American Airlines, whose Five Star Service passengers at JFK can book an airplane to helicopter transfer option at the time of their ticket purchase.
Blade Urban Air Mobility has launched continuous, shared helicopter service between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy Airport (KJFK) every weekday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the company announced in late March. Blade calls the new service “the largest Urban Air Mobility (UAM) initiative in the United States.” Flights will operate between Blade Lounge West at the West 30th Street Heliport and JFK airport, with ground transportation included between the JFK helipad and all commercial terminals. Blade says the $195 price is aligned with the approximate cost of an SUV service doing the same route during rush hour. Blade Lounge West is located 1,000 feet from Hudson Yards, soon to be home to more than 50,000 employees from companies including WarnerMedia, HBO, CNN, Blackrock, and the investment firm KKR.
The new service comes as Blade and American Airlines recently announced that passengers on an American flight at JFK can be transferred from airplane to helicopter using American’s Five Star Service with the service purchased either using the Blade app or from American. Blade said it plans a location in the lobby of the soon to be opened TWA Hotel at JFK where guests can immediately arrange for flights to Manhattan or to any other Blade destination.
Blade recently raised $38 million from Airbus and investment firm Colony Northstar to continue developing UAM infrastructure in major cities. Last year Bell agreed to provide Blade with a 206L-4, operated by Zip Aviation, for the new JFK service. Bell plans to use operating data from the flights in shaping its UAM strategy and eVTOL aircraft. In February, Blade entered into a similar arrangement with Sikorsky’s Associated Aircraft Group (“AAG”), with the latter providing an S-76C+ for New York area operations. The agreement gives Blade access to AAG’s worldwide fleet including S-76 charter service that runs from the Biggin Hill Airport to central London. Blade already flies Sikorsky S-76s on Manhattan-Boston and -Washington, D.C. routes.
Blade eventually plans to swap out conventional helicopters for eVTOL aircraft and said that move will enable it to offer “lower prices for fliers as well as more landing zone options in the future.”
In the meantime, Blade is expanding its helicopter service offerings worldwide beyond its established New York and Los Angeles markets. It recently announced that it would test on-demand flights connecting San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International, Palo Alto, San Jose, Monterey, and the Napa Valley. Blade is granting codes to 200 select individuals that allow them to unlock a special section of the Blade app to book on-demand transport in the Bay Area. Airbus’ Voom program, also based in the Bay Area, already is operating out of Mexico City. Last November Blade announced that it was expanding into Mumbai, India. Blade India is scheduled to begin service this month. Due to Mumbai’s extreme ground traffic congestion, Blade says it can reduce four-to-eight hour car rides to 35-minute flights.