Joby and Virgin Atlantic finalised a partnership at the Farnborough Airshow that was first initiated in 2025, which has now become a multi-year agreement for air taxi services in the UK. Joby Aviation is a Californian company specialising in the development of electric air taxis for commercial passenger operations. Its exclusive airline partner is therefore the British airline Virgin Atlantic, which will be responsible for marketing Joby’s air taxi service in the UK. This collaboration in the UK runs alongside the partnership that has existed since 2022 between Joby and Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49 % stake in Virgin Atlantic. This three-way partnership will enable the provision of an air taxi service in both the UK and the US in the future.
" This agreement marks a significant step towards the introduction of electric air taxi services in the UK. , said Corneel Koster, CEO of Virgin Atlantic. Together, we will create more seamless journeys for our customers, making it easier than ever to travel between cities, towns and our airports. Innovation has always been part of Virgin Atlantic's DNA, and we are proud to partner with Joby to help shape the future of travel while delivering the premium customer experience we are known for.. "
" Virgin Atlantic's devotion to offering a world-class customer experience makes them the ideal partner to represent Joby in the UK, and this agreement reflects the next stage of this relationship., commented JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, in turn.
Flying taxis from Heathrow and Manchester
Under the agreement, Virgin Atlantic will offer Joby's air taxi service through its booking platforms, including its mobile app and website. This will allow travellers in the UK to book a seamless air taxi connection in addition to their long-haul flights.
Joby plans to launch its service by connecting Virgin Atlantic's two hubs at London Heathrow and Manchester. Future air taxi routes would begin on two lines: Manchester Airport to Leeds in around 15 minutes, and Heathrow to Central London in just 8 minutes. These journeys typically take over an hour by car today.
Joby will retain full responsibility for flight operations, route management, and obtaining regulatory approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), while Virgin Atlantic will support infrastructure integration and customer acquisition across both hubs. Over time, Joby intends to expand this network to more cities and communities across the UK.
The air taxi model Joby will use is very avant-garde in its concept. The aircraft uses six tiltrotors, allowing it to take off and land vertically with a fraction of the noise produced by current helicopters. It is optimised for fast, consecutive flights and is expected to be deployed on routes of up to 160 km at a maximum speed of 300 km/h.
Joby has completed thousands of test flights, including recent demonstrations in San Francisco and New York, where the company flew point-to-point between JFK Airport and Manhattan. Joby's aircraft certification is progressing under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the FAA and the UK CAA, building on the company's 2022 validation request.
