Virgin Atlantic Partners With Joby Aviation To Launch Air Taxi Service In The UK

The British company Virgin Atlantic announced this Monday a new partnership with the American startup Joby Aviation (Joby), which specializes in electric air taxis, to provide commercial services in the United Kingdom.

According to the press release, the flying taxi service will offer passengers short-range journeys, with flights lasting around 8 to 15 minutes, connecting regional cities and airports. The planned routes will take customers between Virgin Atlantic hubs at Manchester Airport and Heathrow Airport to nearby locations. The dates for the service have not been disclosed yet.

The new partnership expands an existing agreement between Delta Airlines—which owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic—and Joby to provide services in the United States as well.

Joby has gained popularity for its zero-emission vehicles, similar to modern helicopters, with six tilting propellers, and capacity for up to four passengers—and the pilot. The air taxis can reach up to 200 mph—around 321 Km/h. Users will be able to book a seat on one of the routes through Virgin Atlantic’s app, website, and other alternatives.

“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 flights to airports and cities throughout the UK,” said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic.

London, Manchester, UK — let’s fly!

Introducing our partnership with @VirginAtlantic. pic.twitter.com/S2OT4SUyFX

— Joby Aviation (@jobyaviation) March 17, 2025

As specified in the document, the flying taxis generate “a fraction of the noise produced by today’s helicopters” and have been designed to cover routes of up to 100 miles—160 kilometers.

Joby and Virgin Atlantic expect to build a network connecting convenient locations throughout the UK at prices compared to premium ground transportation services. They did not announce the estimated dates for the service, but Virgin Atlantic will rely on Joby for marketing efforts and regulatory agreements to provide the service soon.

Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines are not the only major businesses interested in Joby’s aircraft. According to The Verge, Toyota invested $500 million in the startup last year, in October, and Joby expects to begin offering its air taxi services in Dubai later this year.

In the market for aerial products and services, other companies and organizations have also announced technological advancements. Amazon has expanded its drone delivery services in the United States, and a group of researchers in South Korea is developing a “flying shopping cart” to transport objects through the air.