Courtesy of Joby
An air taxi company has completed its first test flight between two US airports as the budding industry moves toward commercial service.
Joby Aviation said Friday that its electric aircraft, which can take off and land vertically, flew between two public airports in California.
It took about 12 minutes to fly from Marina to Monterey, whose airports are 11½ miles apart. The company called the flight “a major step as part of Joby’s commercial market readiness.”
Flying in controlled airspace, the aircraft spent five minutes in a holding pattern to let an airliner arrive at Monterey, Joby said.
In addition to working with air traffic control, the flight showcased some key capabilities of the electric vertical-takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). It has six propellers, which tilt depending on whether it’s flying vertically.
While Joby said it was the first eVTOL flight between two public airports in the US, the British firm Vertical Aerospace said it operated the world’s first flight between two public airports last month, flying 17 miles from a small English airport to an air force base.
eVTOL companies are looking to transform commuting, with the first planned commercial services expected to be between airports and downtown cities.
Joby said it could fly from downtown New York City to JFK Airport in seven minutes compared to 49 minutes by car. Its eVTOL became the first to fly in the city with an exhibition flight in 2023.
Being powered by electricity is not just a sustainability benefit but also means it can fly relatively quietly, unlike helicopters, which are heavily regulated in New York and other cities due to their noise.
However, eVTOLs can require additional landing infrastructure when taking off and landing in cities. Vertical takeoff also requires more energy than horizontal flights, which, in combination with battery constraints, can limit passenger capacity.
While prices are yet to be announced, industry players have compared the cost of one seat to a premium Uber.
Joby has partnered with Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic to help launch air taxi services, while rival firm Archer has received an order worth up to $1.5 billion from United Airlines.
Both companies are planning to first carry passengers in the United Arab Emirates. Archer hopes to take off in Abu Dhabi before the end of the year, while Joby plans to launch in Dubai in early 2026.
Joby plans to begin flight testing with Federal Aviation Administration pilots early next year as it works to be certified in the US, and would first operate in Los Angeles and New York.
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