In a move reshaping the future of air transport, Joby Aviation announced a strategic partnership with Virgin Atlantic to launch the first electric air taxi service in the UK, making it the seventh country in which the startup plans to market its services.
While Joby did not specify a specific launch date, it confirmed that the project will follow its expansion plans in the UAE and the US.
The company is expected to begin market testing in Dubai later this year or early next year, following the delivery of its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, according to a report published by TechCrunch and reviewed by Al Arabiya Business.
Strategic Partnership and Infrastructure Enhancement
This move comes months after the two companies revealed plans for cooperation, with Joby becoming the exclusive distribution partner for Virgin Atlantic's services in the UK.
The agreement also includes strengthening the UK's vertical port infrastructure, which are designated sites for the takeoff, landing, and charging of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Under this partnership, Virgin Atlantic passengers will be able to book seats on Joby aircraft directly through the Virgin app and website, allowing them to quickly travel between airports and major cities such as London and Manchester.
The air taxi service is still in its early stages, but Joby has global ambitions, seeking to launch services in the US, the UAE, South Korea, Japan, India, and Australia.
These partnerships with major airlines, such as Delta Air Lines in the US, are a key step in accelerating the entry of this technology into major markets.
This partnership represents a qualitative shift in the air transport sector, as Joby, with the support of Virgin, seeks to make intercity travel faster, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly.
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