Delta Air Lines on Tuesday announced a $60 million equity investment in eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft that – if realized – will transform home-to-airport transportation.
Delta will partner with Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing eVTOL aircraft designed to function as air taxis. Delta’s initial investment for the venture is $60 million but will expand the investment to $200 million as the partnership reaches significant milestones.
The Atlanta-based carrier now joins a growing list of airlines that have invested in eVTOL technology, including American and United.
Delta’s eVTOL Service Will Launch in New York and Los Angeles
Customers who book a flight with Delta will soon be able to reserve an air taxi that will take them from the city to the airport. The service, billed by Joby as “electric aerial ridesharing,” will initially launch in New York and Los Angeles.
The decision to launch the service in the two cities comes as Delta touts years of investments, including multi-billion dollar terminal upgrades at New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Los Angeles International (LAX). Delta officials say its eVTOL service will eventually expand to other markets in the United States and abroad.
The carrier says customers will be able to reserve seats on the Joby aircraft when booking their travel. The service will provide a seamless, premium experience that saves time and simplifies commuting.
“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.”
The partnership between Delta and Joby will be mutually exclusive for at least five years after commercial service begins. The option exists for the mutual agreement to be extended.
Midtown Manhattan to JFK in Seven Minutes
The climate-friendly Joby eVTOL aircraft is powered by six ultra-quiet electric motors. It will carry one pilot and four passengers up to 150 miles on a single charge at a top speed of 200 mph. Joby estimates that customers will be able to fly from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in just seven minutes while avoiding congestion that typically plagues the hourlong journey by car. The aircraft will produce zero operating emissions.
The aircraft is nearly silent during flight and is reportedly 100 times quieter than a helicopter during takeoff and landing.
Having completed over 1,000 test flights over ten years, Joby has received a G-1 (Stage 4) Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – the first eVTOL company granted such a certification. Additionally, in May, Joby received a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA.
What’s Next for Joby Aviation
Joby says its eVTOL could begin commercial service sometime in 2024. However, the company will not commit to a launch date. Much depends on the eventual certification of the aircraft and other factors beyond Joby’s control.
Joby Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt says his company is excited to partner with Delta.
“We share Delta’s unwavering commitment to delivering seamless and sustainable journeys to customers,” said 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.”
Founded in 2009, Joby is based in Santa Cruz, Calif., and has offices in San Carlos and Marina, Calif., Washington, DC, and Munich, Germany. The first full-scale eVTOL prototype first took to the skies in 2017. The company has partnered with NASA, Toyota, Garmin, and Uber. Additionally, in December 2020, Joby became the first eVTOL company to be granted airworthiness approval from the U.S. Air Force as part of its Agility Prime program.
