Joby and Virgin Atlantic Set Sights on Launching UK’s First Electric Air Taxi Service

Joby Aviation, a pioneer in electric air taxis, has announced a game-changing partnership with Virgin Atlantic. The partnership will bring zero-emission, high-speed air transport to the U.K. The collaboration will integrate Joby’s all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into Virgin’s short-haul network, seamlessly connecting passengers to airports and major cities.

Joby’s aircraft is a silent revolution in the skies. Designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers, the eVTOL boasts speeds of up to 200 mph and operates at a fraction of the noise level of helicopters—without burning a single drop of fuel.

The announcement builds upon Joby’s existing partnership with Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. This further strengthens Joby’s footprint in the U.S. and U.K. aviation markets.

Virgin Atlantic passengers will soon be able to book seats on Joby’s air taxis directly through Virgin’s digital platforms, opening the door to a future of fast, seamless, and emission-free travel.

“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 U.K.,” said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, in a press release. “Our strategic partnership combines Joby’s design, engineering and technology expertise with the power of Virgin Atlantic’s brand and award-winning customer experience. We look forward to working together to bring Joby’s service to the UK and to deliver greater connectivity for our customers.”

The partnership with Delta, unveiled in October 2022, was initially designed to deliver home-to-airport air taxi services for passengers in Los Angeles and New York. Now, Virgin Atlantic joins the fold, marking a significant push toward short-range electric air travel in the U.K. The initiative will initially focus on routes connecting major airports, including Heathrow and Manchester, before expanding to other regional hubs.

Virgin Atlantic isn’t just lending its name to the project—it will play a crucial role in regulatory engagement, infrastructure development, and customer adoption, helping Joby navigate the complexities of launching commercial eVTOL services in the region.

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

Joby's six-tilting-propeller design is at the heart of this revolution. It allows for vertical take-off and landing while optimising energy efficiency and noise pollution. The aircraft is engineered for high-frequency, back-to-back operations, making it ideal for journeys up to 100 miles.

The company has completed thousands of test flights, demonstrating its capabilities in New York City, Japan, and Korea. In the U.S., Joby is racing through the FAA’s five-stage certification process, reaching the fourth stage. This milestone puts it on track to launch commercial passenger flights by late 2024 or early 2025.

Joby isn’t just innovating in the air—it’s expanding on the ground. The company has been ramping production at its Pilot Production Plant in Marina, California, where its first aircraft rolled off the assembly line in June 2023. A second prototype followed in April 2024, coinciding with the groundbreaking of a massive 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Marina Municipal Airport, set to begin operations in 2025.

Once fully operational, the new facility will double Joby’s manufacturing capacity, enabling the production of 25 aircraft per year. And the company isn’t stopping there—its Dayton, Ohio manufacturing plant, announced in September 2023, signals further expansion into large-scale eVTOL production.

June 2024 marked another landmark: Joby successfully flew its first hydrogen-electric demonstrator aircraft over Marina. The aircraft, resulting from a years-long collaboration between Joby and its Stuttgart-based subsidiary, H2FLY, represents a bold step toward next-generation sustainable aviation. Designed initially as a battery-electric aircraft, the converted model had already completed 25,000 miles of testing before transforming into a hydrogen-electric prototype.

With headquarters in Santa Cruz and additional facilities in San Carlos, Washington D.C., Munich, and Marina, Joby Aviation is positioning itself as the leader in the eVTOL revolution. Its strategic partnerships with Virgin Atlantic and Delta, rapid technological advancements, and aggressive manufacturing expansion signal a future where air taxis are no longer a concept but a reality poised to redefine how we travel.