Joby Aviation Acquires Ride-Share Division of Blade Air Mobility

Joby Aviation, an innovator in electric air taxis, has finalized a deal to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s helicopter ride-sharing division for up to $125 million.

Through this acquisition, Joby will gain the Blade brand and its passenger operations in the United States and Europe. Rob Wiesenthal, the founder and CEO of Blade, will continue leading the company, which will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby.

Notably, Blade’s medical division, which handles organ transport, is excluded from this deal and will operate independently.

This acquisition allows Joby immediate access to a network of 12 terminals in key locations, such as New York City, which includes dedicated lounges and bases at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty Airport, and various sites across Manhattan and Wall Street.

Founded in 2014, Blade does not own the aircraft it uses; instead, it developed a digital platform that allows passengers to book private helicopter rides on various short-haul routes. This service has become popular among affluent individuals seeking to avoid traffic when commuting from the suburbs to Manhattan or heading to The Hamptons for weekends and holidays. Additionally, Blade services routes between Nice, France, and Monaco, as well as Saint-Tropez, having transported over 50,000 passengers in 2024.

JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, described the acquisition as “strategically significant,” aiding the company’s commercial launch in Dubai and its global expansion plan. Joby intends to incorporate its operational management software into Blade’s passenger services.

Founded in 2009 by Bevirt, Joby has dedicated more than a decade to developing, certifying, and producing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for urban taxi services. The company is also exploring opportunities in a different defense-related sector. Eventually, the Blade service will evolve from helicopter operations to electric air taxis, according to the two companies.

Joby, backed by Toyota, went public in 2021 by merging with Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company established by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Zynga founder Mark Pincus.

Under the terms of the agreement, Joby will withhold $35 million of the purchase price, which will be released once Blade meets specific performance targets and retains certain key personnel.