Joby takes off as Uber says it’ll add Blade helicopter trips to its app
Shares of air taxi maker Joby Aviation are up more than 7% in premarket trading Wednesday, following news that Uber will add the company’s Blade helicopter and seaplane services to its app as soon as next year.
Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said in a statement that the fresh partnership “will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead.” A Joby air taxi completed its first test flight between US airports last month. The company has said it’s 70% complete with the fourth stage in the five-stage FAA certification process.
Uber, which was flat on the announcement, sold its air taxi business to Joby in 2020.
Joby announced its $125 million acquisition of Blade (minus the company’s primary organ transplant business) in early August. More than 50,000 passengers used Blade services last year, according to Joby’s press release.