Uber users could soon find helicopter and seaplane rides alongside their usual car and food delivery options. Starting in 2026, the ride-hailing giant plans to integrate Blade Air Mobility’s passenger services into its app, following electric air taxi company Joby Aviation’s acquisition of Blade’s consumer business.
The deal, announced earlier this summer, is valued at up to $125 million and gives Joby immediate access to Blade’s established network of routes, terminals, and high-end clientele. Blade flew more than 50,000 passengers in 2024, primarily shuttling travelers between Manhattan and major New York airports, as well as select routes in Southern Europe.
Under the agreement, Blade’s medical transport division will continue to operate separately as Strata Critical Medical, while Joby assumes full control of the passenger side. By piggybacking on Blade’s infrastructure, Joby gains a ready-made platform to accelerate its rollout of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the coming years.
At launch, Uber users will be able to book conventional helicopters and seaplanes for popular airport routes. Over time, Joby intends to swap in its own all-electric aircraft, which are designed to fly four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour with a range of around 100 miles. The eVTOLs are significantly quieter than traditional helicopters, an advantage for urban deployment.
“Integrating Blade’s operations with Uber gives us the best of both worlds—an existing customer base and booking platform today, plus a clear runway for bringing our electric aircraft to market,” Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said in a statement.
The new travel option coming to Uber is part of a global strategy. It's worth noting that Joby is preparing to launch its first commercial eVTOL service in Dubai in 2026. After launching in Dubai, Joby will expand the service to New York, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo on the horizon.
The partnership with Uber gives Joby the opportunity to gain a consumer-facing channel with massive reach. This will normalize air taxis for everyday travelers much faster and seamless than if it built its own app ecosystem from scratch.
On the other hand, the integration marks a return to aviation ambitions for Uber. The company had previously sold its Elevate division in 2020, which had been focused on urban air mobility. This partnership effectively puts Uber back in the air, this time without the heavy burden of vehicle development.
If the rollout succeeds, the days of booking a quick chopper ride to JFK through the same app used to hail a Toyota Camry could become commonplace. More importantly, the transition to electric air taxis promises a quieter, cleaner, and potentially more affordable alternative to helicopters—opening the skies to a much wider customer base.
