NEW AIR TAXIS CUTS TRANSPORT TIME BETWEEN HEATHROW AIRPORT AND CENTRAL LONDON TO 8 MINUTES

Electric air taxis are on the verge of becoming a reality, but flying cars are still a ways off. California-based Joby Aviation has developed a cutting-edge, emissions-free transportation service in collaboration with Virgin Atlantic that could transport people from Heathrow airport to central London in as little as eight minutes. On the other hand, driving the same distance can take up to 80 minutes.

Currently, Joby's air taxis are designed for short-distance travel throughout the United Kingdom, with an emphasis on city and regional connections from Virgin Atlantic's hubs at Manchester and Heathrow airports. In addition to maintaining pricing that, according to a news release, are competitive with "current premium ground ridesharing choices at launch," Joby and Virgin Atlantic intend to expand these capabilities over time by expanding their network of landing places.

With a top speed of 200 miles per hour, Joby's air taxis can accommodate a pilot and up to four passengers. The aircraft can take off and land vertically thanks to six tilting propellers, which significantly reduces any noise produced by the aircraft to a "fraction of [that] produced by today's helicopters." To maximize efficiency, the taxis are also optimized for “rapid, back-to-back flights” and can be deployed on routes of up to 100 miles.

Joby and Virgin Atlantic's collaboration expands on one that was established in 2022 with Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49% share in the latter airline. In a statement, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said, "Our strategic alliance combines Joby's expertise in design, engineering, and technology with the strength of Virgin Atlantic's brand and award-winning customer experience."

“Together, we are committed to creating faster choices for mobility across the country, especially for Virgin Atlantic and Delta customers as they head to the airport or move between UK towns and cities,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. This electric air taxi was originally displayed in the United Kingdom in 2024 when Joby displayed it at the Farnborough International Airshow. An immersive sneak peek at the Joby air taxi technology was also revealed by Delta during its CES 2025 keynote at the Sphere in Las Vegas, offering a memorable look at how air transport will undergo a significant transformation in the years to come.

As of this writing, there’s no clear information yet on when the first air taxi flights are set to take off in the UK. To stay in the loop and learn more, visit the Joby Aviation website.