Travel

Joby and Virgin Atlantic strike deal for UK electric air taxi service

GlobalData · Jul 22, 2026 12:58 · 3 min read

ToyotaJoby — Joby and Virgin Atlantic strike deal for UK electric air taxi service

London Heathrow and Manchester Airport are expected to be among the primary UK connection points, with a plan to extend services across the UK over time.

Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, and Virgin Atlantic, a premium long-haul UK airline, have signed a definitive agreement, formalising the partnership the companies first announced in 2025 to bring Joby's air taxi service to the UK.

The agreement converts the partnership announced in 2025 into a binding, multi-year commercial framework, establishing Virgin Atlantic as Joby's exclusive airline partner for air taxi services in the UK. The collaboration builds on Joby's existing partnership with Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic, bringing together three brands focused on ‘faster, more convenient travel across the UK’.

In 2022, Joby and Delta announced a multi-city partnership to pioneer community-to-airport transportation, which is mutually exclusive across the US and UK. Delta and Virgin Atlantic operate as partners across a shared transatlantic network, and Joby's UK partnership with Virgin Atlantic complements and expands its partnership with Delta.

“This agreement marks an exciting next chapter in our partnership with Joby and a significant step towards bringing electric air taxi services to the UK,” said Corneel Koster, CEO of Virgin Atlantic. “Together, we'll create more seamless journeys for our customers, making it easier than ever to travel between towns, cities and our airports. Innovation has always been part of Virgin Atlantic's DNA, and we're proud to partner with Joby to help shape the future of travel while delivering the premium customer experience we're known for."

"Virgin Atlantic’s dedication to a world-class customer experience makes them the right partner to represent Joby in the UK, and this agreement reflects the next step in that relationship,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. ”The UK is one of the most exciting markets for this technology, and this partnership could drive significant opportunities for Joby as we bring air taxi service to some of the country’s busiest cities."

Under the agreement, Virgin Atlantic will offer Joby's air taxi service through its booking platforms, including mobile app and website. This will allow travelers in the UK to book a seamless air taxi connection alongside their long-haul flights.

Joby plans to launch service at Virgin Atlantic’s hubs in London and Manchester, with Manchester anchoring Joby’s connections across the North of England. Early routes are expected to include Manchester Airport to Leeds in approximately 15 minutes and Heathrow to Central London in as little as 8 minutes, journeys that take over an hour by car today.

Joby will retain sole responsibility for aircraft operations, route management, and securing UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulatory approvals, while Virgin Atlantic will support infrastructure integration and customer acquisition at both hubs. Over time, Joby expects to expand this network to a wide range of cities and communities across the UK.

Joby's aircraft uses six tilting propellers, allowing it to take off and land vertically with a fraction of the noise produced by today's helicopters. It is optimized for rapid, back-to-back flights and is expected to be deployed on routes of up to 100 miles.

Joby's aircraft certification is progressing under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the FAA and UK CAA, building on the Company's 2022 validation application.

Earlier in July, Toyota Motor Corporation announced that it has launched the initial phase of a strategic manufacturing alliance with US aviation company Joby Aviation Inc for the production of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flying taxis.