Electric Air Taxi Developer Joby Aviation agreed to buy the helicopter-share share business from Blade Air Mobility for about $ 125 million.
Joby buys the mark Blade and the company’s passenger company, which includes operations in the United States and Europe. Rob Wiesenthal, founder and general manager of Blade, will continue to lead the business that will serve as a fully -owned branch of Joby.
Blade’s medical division, which transports organs, is not included in the transaction and will remain a separate company.
The deal gives Joby instant access to a network of 12 terminals in key markets like New York – in particular, a dedicated hall as well as terminal bases at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty Airport, the west side of Manhattan, the east side of Manhattan and Wall Street.
Blade, founded in 2014, does not own aircraft. Instead, the company has developed a digital network, which allows passengers to reserve private rides on helicopters through several short routes. The service has grown in popularity, as kind customers seek ways to avoid traffic in their suburbs in Manhattan, or to the Hampton on weekends and holidays. The company, which also offers access to routes from Nice, France, Monaco and Saint-Tropez, flew more than 50,000 passengers in 2024.
Joby Aviation founder and general manager Joeben Bevirt described the agreement as a “strategically important” acquisition that will support its launch of its business operations in Dubai and subsequent global rolling. The company said it would integrate its program, which is designed to manage air taxi operations, into Blade’s passenger service.
Joby, founded in 2009 by Bevirt, worked for over a decade to develop, testify and produce an electrical vertical removal and landing (EVTOL) aircraft for commercial taxi service in cities. (The company also pursues a separate Defense-related business.) Eventually, the marked blade service will use electrical air taxis, not helicopters in their service, according to the companies.
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Toyota-backed Joby have been published In 2021 by merger with Reinvent Technology Partners, a special target-acquired company supported by Linkedin co-founder Reid Hoffman and Zynga founder Mark Pincus.
Under the deal, Joby retains $ 35 million from the purchase price, which will be released if Blade hit certain performance milestones and keep some key employees.
