DALLAS – California-based electric taxi developer Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic (VS) have partnered to launch an air taxi service in the UK. 

The collaboration is based on an existing agreement between Joby and Delta Air Lines (DL), which owns a 49% stake in VS. Initially, the service will provide short-range regional and city connections from VA’s hubs at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Manchester Airport (MAN).

The UK airline is responsible for marketing the service, dealing with regulators, and developing the Vertiport infrastructure at the airports above. A Vertiport is a specialized airport or landing area designed for the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) of aircraft, particularly electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, like air taxis and drones, serving as a hub for urban air mobility.

In the UK domestic market, British Airways (BA) holds a significantly larger share of domestic seat capacity than , with the former having around 30% and the latter a smaller, unspecified share.

Electric Aerial Ridesharing

Powered by six electric motors, Joby’s eVTOL air taxi can carry a pilot and up to four passengers and serve almost any community. Imagine making a reservation on VA’s app or website, like you do with Uber, getting into a flying SUV at a Vertiport rather than boarding a plane and traveling up to 200 mph. That’s the idea.

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “As a leader in sustainability and with innovation firmly in our DNA, we are delighted to be partnering with Joby to bring short-haul, zero-emission flight to airports and cities throughout the UK. Our strategic partnership combines Joby’s expertise in design, engineering and technology with the power of Virgin Atlantic’s brand and award-winning customer experience.”

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, commented: “Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to delighting its customers reflects our experience with Delta and we couldn’t imagine a better partner to work within the UK. Together, we are committed to delivering faster mobility options across the country, including for Virgin Atlantic and Delta customers as they head to the airport or move between UK towns and cities.”

Market Penetration Feasibility

The journey to innovation promised by Advance Air Mobility (AAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) startups has encountered some turbulence in recent months. Two major German eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) companies—Volocopter and Lilium—have filed for insolvency, highlighting the industry's financial and operational challenges.

Then there are manufacturers like Joby Aviation. In 2023, the eVTOL developer announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had granted the company's first aircraft, built at its Pilot Production Line in Marina, California, a Special Airworthiness Certificate that allowed Joby to continue with the next phase of flight testing for its first eVTOL production prototype.

In February 26, 2025, Joby announced it had made progress on the fourth of five stages required "to certify our aircraft for commercial passenger use in the US." The Santa Cruz-based manufacturer expects Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight testing to begin in the next 12 months and plans to deliver an aircraft to Dubai in the middle of 2025 to complete flight testing ahead of carrying its "first passengers in late 2025 or early 2026."

With DL and VA backing the enterprise, we do hope Joby's urban air mobility foray will help the segment evolve into a mainstream transportation mode similar to Uber and not reduce the offering to a novelty for a few.

Stay connected at every stop along your journey! Get any Saily mobile data plan at 5% off with the code AIRWAYSMAG5 + up to 5GB free!