Blade Air Mobility has returned to NBAA-BACE this year to offer per-seat shuttle flights between the Las Vegas Convention Center and the static display site at Henderson Executive Airport. Following up on its previous partnership with NBAA in 2021, Blade will provide service through flights operated by Orbic Air.
Each flight will seat up to six passengers, who can book through the Blade mobile app. The flights bypass traffic between the convention center and static display at Henderson while providing aerial views of the Las Vegas Strip.
Similar flights were offered when the convention was last held in Las Vegas in 2021, and NBAA said the service provided a view of what's possible with urban air mobility. AIN got a firsthand glimpse of this service, resulting in former senior editor—the late Jerry Siebenmark—to explain “How Urban Air Mobility Helped Me Beat My Boss.”
“In 2021, every seat was sold out for Blade flights between the convention center and the outdoor aircraft display, demonstrating the excitement for on-demand urban air mobility,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.
Blade president Melissa Tomkiel added, “This program not only demonstrates the efficiency of urban air mobility but also highlights use cases that are relevant as we transition from conventional rotorcraft to quiet, emission-free electric vertical aircraft.”
In addition to urban air mobility, NBAA-BACE is highlighting advanced air mobility with Volocopter demonstrations at Henderson.