Delta, Joby Aviation Partner to Pioneer Home-to-Airport Transport

Delta Air Lines is making noise as they announce that they are embarking on a multi-year, multi-market commercial and operational partnership with Joby Aviation.

The project is designed to deliver home-to-airport transportation service to Delta customers, starting with New York and Los Angeles.

The companies will work together to integrate a Joby-operated service to allow Delta to provide customers who travel with Delta through New York and Los Angeles the opportunity to reserve a seat for short-range journeys to and from city airports when booking Delta travel.

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Delta has made an upfront equity investment of $60 million in Joby, with the opportunity to expand the total investment up to $200 million IF substantive milestones occur. The partnership will be mutually exclusive across the U.S. and U.K. for five years following commercial launch, with the potential to extend that period.

“Delta always looks forward and embraces opportunities to lead the future, and we’ve found in Joby a partner that shares our pioneering spirit and commitment to delivering innovative, seamless experiences that are better for our customers, their journeys, and our world,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “This is a groundbreaking opportunity for Delta to deliver a time-saving, uniquely premium home-to-airport solution for customers in key markets we’ve been investing and innovating in for many years.”

“We share Delta’s unwavering commitment to delivering seamless and sustainable journeys to customers,” said Joby Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. “Their history of innovation, along with their vast operational expertise and leadership on climate change, make them incredible partners for Joby, and it’s an honor to be working alongside them.”

Joby’s aircraft is designed to fly trips in and around cities. The aircraft has flown more than 1,000 test flights, allegedly demonstrating its range, speed, altitude and low noise profile. The company was reportedly the first eVTOL company to be granted a G-1 (Stage 4) Certification Basis for its aircraft by the FAA and recently received its Part 135 Air Carrier Certification.

FMI: www.delta.com, www.jobyaviation.com