Joby Aviation (JOBY.US) completes first flight from New York's Kennedy Airport to Manhattan, accelerating the commercialization process of eVTOL.

In the sky over New York, flying taxis are one step closer to reality. Joby Aviation (JOBY.US) completed the first-ever point-to-point eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) demonstration flight in the history of New York City on Monday, marking a turning point for urban air transportation in America's most congested metropolis. Joby's aircraft known as N545JX flew between John F. Kennedy International Airport and the existing helicopter landing pad network in Manhattan, including the downtown Skyport and Blade Air Mobility Lounge at the West 30th Street Heliport, showcasing a route that could one day shorten the 60 to 120 minute drive to Kennedy Airport to a 7-minute flight. Joby's stock price rose over 6% at Monday's close, and continued to climb 3.43% in after-hours trading. The company's Chief Product Officer, Eric Allison, stated that this was a critical concept validation, and the company plans to begin passenger flights as early as the second half of 2026. "This is how we achieve leaps in efficiency and scale - both in terms of cost structure and environmental performance," Allison said in an interview at the Blade Air Mobility Lounge. "This is a zero-emission aircraft, with very low noise levels flying to and from Kennedy Airport. We landed with the doors open - if a helicopter had landed with the doors open, the people in the lounge wouldn't be happy." It is known that low noise is Joby's core selling point different from traditional helicopters, its design aims to minimize noise as much as possible. The all-electric propulsion system achieves zero emissions, and Allison believes this can open up markets that traditional helicopters cannot reach. "There are places where people do not want helicopters landing," he said, "and this technology makes vertical flight convenience accessible - booking a trip through the Uber Technologies, Inc. app, flying to the airport at speeds of 200 miles per hour, is key to industry development." On the business front, Joby is advancing its official commercial launch plan for the second half of 2026 through a multi-faceted strategy. Currently, the company has established deep strategic alliances with Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL.US) and Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER.US) to seamlessly integrate air routes into Delta Air Lines, Inc.'s booking system and Uber Technologies, Inc.'s ground dispatch network. To support future operations at scale, Joby acquired the helicopter booking service Blade Air Mobility's passenger business in 2025, gaining its passenger base and Manhattan area helicopter landing pad network. Allison revealed this week that Blade passengers, while waiting for a helicopter to Kennedy Airport, inquired about switching to the Joby aircraft. "This fully demonstrates people's enthusiasm for this project, and we are eager to launch the service." Meanwhile, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is accelerating the electrification of infrastructure at core locations such as LaGuardia to prepare for the upcoming era of electric flight. In fact, Joby is not alone in this endeavor. UK competitor Vertical Aerospace (EVTL.US) is developing its Valo aircraft to open similar urban air transport routes in Europe, and has partnerships with American Airlines Group Inc., Virgin Atlantic, and others. Joby has partnerships with Delta Air Lines, Inc., Virgin Atlantic, and Japan's All Nippon Airways. When asked about Vertical Aerospace, Allison stated, "We can only focus on our own business. We have been deeply involved in this field for a long time - I believe we are industry leaders, with a deeper understanding of this technology than almost anyone else." Joby stated that its aircraft's FAA certification is progressing, with the first aircraft meeting standards currently in testing stages.