Joby Aviation Acquires Blade’s Helicopter Rideshare Business to Accelerate eVTOL Deployment

HYSKY Society
Aug 4
4 min read

Electric aircraft on tarmac at sunset, overlooking a harbor with a ferry and distant statue silhouette. Calm, golden atmosphere.

Joby Aviation has announced its acquisition of Blade Air Mobility’s passenger operations for up to $125 million, giving the electric air taxi company instant access to critical infrastructure and customers in major urban markets like New York and Southern Europe.

https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/joby-to-acquire-blade-passenger-business/

Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Expands with Joby and Blade Merger

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY), a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft development, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s (NASDAQ:BLDE) urban passenger business. The deal will provide Joby with a ready-made operational network including 12 premium urban terminals and lounges in high-value locations like JFK, Newark, and Wall Street along with Blade’s loyal passenger base and deep operational experience.

This acquisition is a strategic springboard for Joby’s global rollout, beginning with its planned launch of air taxi services in Dubai in 2026. Blade’s passenger operations will continue under its brand as a wholly owned subsidiary of Joby, led by Blade’s founder and CEO Rob Wiesenthal. Blade’s Medical division, focused on organ transport, is excluded from the transaction and will become a separate public company under the name Strata Critical Medical, partnering with Joby as its preferred VTOL provider.

Joeben Bevirt on a laptop with joby evtol in the background — Joeben Bevirt, CEO of Joby Aviation; Source: Joby Aviation

“Over the last decade, Rob and the team at Blade have built a world-class passenger experience that demonstrates the value of vertical lift,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “This is a strategically important acquisition that will support the successful launch of Joby’s commercial operations in Dubai, our subsequent global rollout, and our continued leadership in the sector.”

With more than 50,000 passengers flown by Blade in 2024, Joby plans to gradually transition these fliers from helicopters to its quieter, zero-emissions electric aircraft. Joby will integrate its ElevateOS software into Blade’s operations to optimize efficiency and customer experience.

Photo Credit: Rob Wiesenthal at BLADE Lounge West by Forest16, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Man in white shirt and orange pants sitting in a stylish bar with dim lighting, looking relaxed. Shelves with bottles in the background. — Rob Wiesenthal at BLADE Lounge West. Photo by Forest16, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

“Blade was founded to democratize short-distance air travel and transition from rotorcraft to emissions-free electric aircraft,” said Rob Wiesenthal. “There is no better partner than Joby to realize that mission.”

Joby has the flexibility to pay for the acquisition in either stock or cash, subject to performance-based holdbacks of $35 million. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks.

While Joby is currently focused on battery-electric aircraft, the company has also initiated research into hydrogen propulsion as part of its long-term sustainability roadmap—ensuring future adaptability as hydrogen fuel cell technology matures.

For more information:

https://www.jobyaviation.com/

(Top image credit: Joby Aviation)

FAQ: Advanced Air Mobility, Joby Aviation, and the Future of Hydrogen eVTOLs

1. What does Joby gain from acquiring Blade’s passenger business?

Immediate access to infrastructure, a global customer base, and experienced operational expertise in major urban air corridors.

2. Will Blade continue to operate as a brand?

Yes, Blade’s passenger services will continue under its existing brand as a wholly owned subsidiary of Joby.

3. How does this acquisition accelerate Joby’s air taxi rollout?

It eliminates the need for Joby to build infrastructure from scratch and provides a base of customers ready for eVTOL service transition.

4. What cities are included in Blade’s network?

Blade’s network includes 12 terminals in New York City, Southern Europe (such as Nice, Monaco, and Saint-Tropez), and other high-traffic urban corridors.

5. What are the economic benefits of this acquisition?

Reduced infrastructure investment, lower customer acquisition costs, and faster time-to-market for Joby’s commercial services.

6. How does this impact hydrogen aviation?

While the current focus is electric, Joby is researching hydrogen propulsion, positioning itself to adopt hydrogen-powered aircraft in the future.

7. What is ElevateOS and how does it help?

ElevateOS is Joby’s proprietary software for managing high-frequency air taxi operations, improving efficiency and passenger experience.

8. Is Blade’s medical division part of the deal?

No, Blade’s medical transport operations will remain separate and will be renamed Strata Critical Medical, though it will partner with Joby.

9. Will Blade’s helicopters be replaced by Joby aircraft?

Yes, over time, Joby will replace Blade’s helicopter services with its electric air taxis as certification and production scale.

10. How does this align with HYSKY Society’s mission?

It represents a key step toward decarbonizing aviation by transitioning urban helicopter services to quieter, cleaner electric—and eventually hydrogen-powered—aircraft.

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