California-based company Joby Aviation Inc. is partnering with UK airline Virgin Atlantic. The partnership will see the companies come together on the launch of Joby’s upcoming air taxi service in the United Kingdom. The partnership aims to offer zero-emission short-range journeys across the UK. They will start with regional and city connections from Virgin Atlantic’s hubs at Heathrow and Manchester Airport. Virgin Atlantic will support Joby’s efforts in the UK through marketing the service to customers and building support for landing infrastructure at key airports.Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, and the partnership means Virgin Atlantic customers can reserve a seat on Joby’s aircraft through the airline’s app, website and other channels.The electric air taxi utilizes six tilting propellers to allow for vertical takeoff and landing with a fraction of the noise. It’s capable of back-to-back flights and is expected to be deployed on routes of up to 100 miles. Joby has completed thousands of test flights, including exhibition flights in New York City, Japan and Korea.Journeys in the UK could include flights from Manchester Airport to Leeds, or from Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf. Both of which would take a fraction of the travel time by car. Over time, Joby expects to build out a network of landing locations around cities and communities across the UK. Joby expects to offer prices similar to premium ridesharing options at launch.The partnership builds on an existing agreement between Joby and Delta Air Lines, which owns nearly half of Virgin Atlantic. While the Joby/Delta partnership is mutually exclusive across the US and UK for at least five years after commercial launch, the partnership has been extended to include Virgin Atlantic in the UK.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
California-based company Joby Aviation Inc. is partnering with UK airline Virgin Atlantic. The partnership will see the companies come together on the launch of Joby’s upcoming air taxi service in the United Kingdom.
The partnership aims to offer zero-emission short-range journeys across the UK. They will start with regional and city connections from Virgin Atlantic’s hubs at Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
Virgin Atlantic will support Joby’s efforts in the UK through marketing the service to customers and building support for landing infrastructure at key airports.
Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, and the partnership means Virgin Atlantic customers can reserve a seat on Joby’s aircraft through the airline’s app, website and other channels.
The electric air taxi utilizes six tilting propellers to allow for vertical takeoff and landing with a fraction of the noise.
It’s capable of back-to-back flights and is expected to be deployed on routes of up to 100 miles. Joby has completed thousands of test flights, including exhibition flights in New York City, Japan and Korea.
Journeys in the UK could include flights from Manchester Airport to Leeds, or from Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf. Both of which would take a fraction of the travel time by car.
Over time, Joby expects to build out a network of landing locations around cities and communities across the UK. Joby expects to offer prices similar to premium ridesharing options at launch.
The partnership builds on an existing agreement between Joby and Delta Air Lines, which owns nearly half of Virgin Atlantic. While the Joby/Delta partnership is mutually exclusive across the US and UK for at least five years after commercial launch, the partnership has been extended to include Virgin Atlantic in the UK.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel