Electric air taxi developer Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) announced on the 22nd (local time) that it has signed a final exclusive agreement with UK-based premium long-haul airline Virgin Atlantic to introduce air taxi services in the UK.

The agreement, signed at the Farnborough International Airshow, formalizes a strategic partnership initially announced in 2025 into a legally binding, multi-year commercial contract. As a result, Virgin Atlantic becomes the exclusive airline partner for Joby's air taxi services in the UK.

Tripartite Collaboration Based on Delta Air Lines Partnership

This partnership builds upon existing ties with Delta Air Lines. Delta currently holds a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic and, in 2022, agreed to jointly pursue airport-to-city-center connectivity services with Joby in the United States and the United Kingdom. Joby complements and expands the existing cooperation between Virgin Atlantic and Delta, who jointly operate transatlantic routes. The three companies share the goal of establishing fast and convenient next-generation mobility services across the UK.

Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster stated, "This agreement marks a new phase in our partnership with Joby and represents a significant milestone in bringing electric air taxi services to the UK. We will provide a new mobility experience so that customers can travel between cities and airports more easily and conveniently." He emphasized, "Innovation is a core value of Virgin Atlantic, and together with Joby, we will shape the future of air travel while delivering a premium customer experience."

Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt said, "Virgin Atlantic, with its world-class customer service, is the ideal partner to represent Joby in the UK. The UK is one of the markets with the greatest potential for electric air taxi technology, and this agreement presents a significant opportunity to expand our services to major UK cities."

Heathrow to London City Center in 8 Minutes, Manchester to Leeds in 15 Minutes

Under the agreement, Virgin Atlantic will introduce Joby's air taxi services through its booking platforms, including its mobile app and official website. Customers will be able to book long-haul flights and air taxi rides together in a single transaction.

The service will launch centered around Virgin Atlantic's major hub in Manchester, a key nexus connecting London and northern England. Initial routes under consideration include routes that currently take over an hour by car: ▲Heathrow Airport to London city center (as fast as 8 minutes) and ▲Manchester Airport to Leeds (approximately 15 minutes).

Joby will be solely responsible for aircraft operations, route management, and obtaining operating approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), while Virgin Atlantic will support airport infrastructure integration and customer acquisition. There are plans to expand routes to various cities and communities across the UK in the future. Previously, in July, a full-scale mockup of Joby's aircraft was displayed at Potters Fields Park near London's Tower Bridge, where a boarding experience event was held for the general public.

Accelerating FAA and CAA Certification Processes... Thousands of Test Flights Completed

Joby's electric air taxi is equipped with six tilting propellers, enabling vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and produces significantly less noise than conventional helicopters. It is designed to fly routes of up to approximately 100 miles (about 161 km) and is optimized for continuous operations.

To date, Joby has completed thousands of test flights and recently conducted demonstration flights in San Francisco and New York, showcasing direct flights connecting JFK Airport and Manhattan. In particular, based on its certification application submitted in 2022, Joby is proceeding with the UK certification process without delay under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the UK CAA.

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