Joby Aviation has completed the first point-to-point electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi demonstration flights in New York City’s history.
The achievement marks the beginning of a week-long public campaign across the city’s existing heliport network to showcase how electric air taxis can connect the metropolitan region. Operating with zero operating emissions and significantly reduced noise levels, the aircraft departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport and landed at several key locations, including the Downtown Skyport and heliports at West 30th Street and East 34th Street in Midtown. These routes represent the commercial paths the company intends to establish, potentially reducing travel time between Manhattan and JFK to approximately seven minutes.
“New York has always been a city that defines the future by demanding better,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “We first flew here in 2023, and now we’re showing what the next chapter looks like: a quiet, zero operating emissions air taxi service designed to better serve New Yorkers. This week, flying between JFK and Manhattan, we showed what the White House-backed eIPP initiative makes possible and offered New York a look at what’s coming.“
The initiative is supported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the region’s bridges, tunnels, and airports. “This cutting-edge aircraft is exactly the kind of innovation we have a responsibility to test, understand, and help shape for the good of the region and the public,” stated Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia noted that these demonstration flights reflect a conviction that responsible exploration of electric aviation technologies is essential to preparing the region for future transportation needs.
Infrastructure preparation is already underway through the NYC Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with Skyports Infrastructure and Vertiports by Atlantic. “These historic Joby flights, linking our city-owned heliport to our airports, is proof that the future of advanced air mobility is no longer a Jetsons-esque fantasy – it’s already here,” said NYCEDC Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak. The city-owned heliports are being upgraded to support eVTOL charging infrastructure and maritime delivery services.
A central component of the regional strategy is Joby’s 2025 acquisition of Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Blade provides the operational expertise and passenger infrastructure that supported over 90,000 passengers in 2025. This foundation is expected to accelerate the transition from conventional helicopters to quiet, emission-free aircraft. Furthermore, partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber aim to create a seamless experience connecting ground transportation and air travel in a single journey.
From a technical perspective, the Joby aircraft is designed with multiple redundant systems to enhance safety. Its proprietary design achieves a noise footprint considerably lower than conventional aircraft, with an acoustic signature intended to blend into ambient city life. These flights align with the March announcement of New York’s selection under the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which aims to accelerate the commercial rollout of next-generation air transportation across the United States.
Joby is currently in the final stages of FAA certification. The recent flight of its first conforming aircraft for Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) will allow FAA pilots to begin for-credit testing. The New York campaign follows similar piloted demonstrations in the San Francisco Bay Area and is part of the 2026 Electric Skies Tour, a national showcase timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States.
