Ride hailing platform Uber is all set to take its business to skies as it plans to offer helicopter rides to customers through its application, the San Francisco-based company said in a statement. For this, Uber is teaming up with electric air taxis maker, Joby Aviation, to bring the services as soon as next year.
This comes just a month after Joby acquired Blade Air Mobility, which already allows passengers to use helicopters and seaplanes, in a $125 million deal, reported CBS News.
“In 2024, Blade flew more than 50,000 passengers across a network of routes in the New York metropolitan area and Southern Europe, including high-traffic destinations such as Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Manhattan and the Hamptons,” the release said.
‘New era of air travel worldwide’
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby said they are excited to introduce Uber customers to the magic of seamless urban air travel.
“Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership with Uber and will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead. Together with Uber’s global platform and Blade’s proven network, we’re setting the stage for a new era of air travel worldwide,” he added.
It added that once the service is integrated, passengers will be able to book flights directly in the Uber app in the “most populated cities in the world.”
Where will Uber helicopters fly?
On the routes and prices, a spokesperson for Joby told CBS MoneyWatch that the same has not been finalised by the company, but added that airport connections would be appealing to consumers.
“Airport routes have long been identified as some of the highest value propositions to the public,” the spokesperson said, the report added.
The website of Blade shows that it offers flights between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York or Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey for $195. Last year, it flew 50,000 passengers in the New York metropolitan area and Southern Europe, the report further said.
“Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership with Uber and will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead,” JoeBen Bevirt said in a statement.