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Joby Aviation Acquires Blade’s Helicopter Ride-Share Business in $125 Million Deal
August 4, 2025
Electric air taxi pioneer Joby Aviation is acquiring Blade Air Mobility’s passenger helicopter business for up to $125 million, marking a major step in Joby’s path toward launching commercial eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) operations.
The deal includes Blade’s brand and its U.S. and European passenger services, but excludes its medical division, which will continue to operate independently. Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal will stay on to lead the business as it becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby.
By acquiring Blade, Joby gains instant access to a valuable network of 12 passenger terminals, including high-traffic locations in New York City such as JFK, Newark, and multiple Manhattan helipads. These locations are key for wealthy commuters and leisure travelers, especially those heading to destinations like the Hamptons or the South of France.
Founded in 2014, Blade operates a booking platform that connects passengers with helicopter flights — it doesn’t own the aircraft. In 2024 alone, over 50,000 passengers used Blade’s services across its routes in the U.S. and Europe.
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, called the acquisition “strategically important,” emphasizing its role in accelerating Joby’s commercial rollout, which includes a planned launch in Dubai and future global expansion. Joby also plans to integrate its proprietary air taxi management software into Blade’s existing platform.
Joby, established in 2009, has spent more than a decade developing its electric aircraft, aiming to replace helicopters with quieter, cleaner, and more efficient eVTOL vehicles. While it pursues aircraft certification and production, this acquisition gives Joby a ready-made customer base and operational footprint in key urban markets.
The company went public in 2021 through a SPAC merger and is backed by major investors including Toyota and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. As part of the Blade deal, $35 million of the purchase price is contingent on performance milestones and key staff retention.
Eventually, the Blade brand will transition from helicopters to Joby’s electric air taxis — turning today’s luxury helicopter rides into tomorrow’s sustainable urban air mobility network.
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