Medical Transportation Division Will Become Partner

Joby, developer of electric air taxis, announced a definitive agreement to purchase Blade’s urban air mobility passenger operation. Blade’s medical transportation side will remain independent and become a partner with the combined company.

The acquisition gives Joby immediate access to the market and infrastructure in New York City and Southern Europe. Joby will also be able to take advantage of Blade’s experience with providing transportation in several locations, as it is anticipating carrying its first passengers in 2026 in Dubai.

In 2024, Blade flew over 50,000 passengers from its network of 12 urban terminals including JFK International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, the East and West sides of Manhattan, and Wall Street.

Those passenger operations will continue as normal, with Blade Founder and CEO Rob Wiesenthal leading the way as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby.

Joby expects to be able to accelerate its commercialization while also reducing the need for investment in infrastructure and customer acquisition costs.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation said, “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.

“Over the last decade, Rob and the team at Blade have built a world-class passenger experience that demonstrates the value of vertical lift. With access to the infrastructure they have secured and the loyal customer base they have developed, we will be in the best possible position to launch our quiet, electric aircraft as soon as certification is secured.”

Included in the transaction will be Joby’s status as the preferred VTOL partner to Blade’s organ transport business. That unit will remain a separate public company and be renamed to Strata Critical Medical.

Wiesenthal said, “Blade was founded with the mission of democratising short-distance air travel by facilitating the transition from conventional rotorcraft to quiet, emissions-free electric aircraft, and I believe there is no better partner than Joby to make that mission a reality. It’s crystal clear from their progress on certification to the successful demonstration flights in New York and Dubai that this is the best possible home for our fliers, our team and our partners.”

FMI:  www.jobyaviation.com/