Book helicopter with Uber: ride-hailing app adds air travel via Joby partnership

Uber is elevating its ride-hailing services offering air travel. The company announced on Wednesday, September 10, that it will combine the services offered by the Blade helicopter and seaplane into its application as early as 2026.

This move marks a significant expansion of its partnership with the electric air taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation.

The relocation follows Joby's recent acquisition of Blade, an urban air mobility company that chartered more than 50,000 passengers in 2020. 

Blade’s medical transport division was not included in the deal.

“Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership,” said Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Vivert while talking in a press release, underlining that the partnership serves as an initial step in the path to zero-emission aircraft services in the future.

Uber has been indicating a desire to venture into the air-bound mobility sector for years.

The first collaboration was in 2019 between the company and Joby, and the second took place in 2020 when the company sold its flying taxi division, Elevate, to the aerospace company.

Uber Chief Operating Officer Andrew Macdonald said the project is a representation of the company's longstanding conviction in air transportation as the future of urban transportation.

Firstly, the service will provide the existing helicopter and seaplane routes of Blade such as, transfers between Manhattan, the Hamptons and major locations in the New York area.

Although the costs and booking information will be shared later, the partnership is an indication that a concrete step is being taken to reduce urban traffic and emissions.

The announcement was made at a time when Joby and other eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) manufacturers are seeking out a complete regulatory certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Uber customers can soon even buy rides backseat to a flight, powered by Blade.