Uber users in will soon be able to book helicopter rides through the app, thanks to an expanded partnership with Joby Aviation’s new Blade transport company.
The new option will let travelers request Joby-operated helicopters to and from area airports directly in the Uber app, appearing as a premium alternative alongside regular ride types. The feature is expected to go live as early as 2026.
Uber has worked with Joby Aviation since 2019, when it sold its Elevate division to the electric aircraft developer. Joby is targeting FAA certification for its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in 2025, with a commercial launch slated for 2026. Once certified, Joby’s eVTOL aircraft will also be integrated into the Uber platform.
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This comes after Joby announced its $125 million acquisition of Blade, a helicopter and air transport company that will be the structure behind the Uber helicopters.
Unsplash: austindistel
Uber’s familiarity with helicopters
This isn’t the first time Uber has given customers the ability to order a helicopter through the app. Before 2020, the rideshare company offered rides around New York – but those flights ended when they sold that division to Joby in 2020.
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Uber has also offered its UberChopper service in Dubai, where customers in the country could order 12, 15, or 25-minute sightseeing tours around the area. But, like the New York flights, the Dubai tours are no longer available in 2025.
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The deal underscores Uber’s strategy to expand into aerial transport, starting with helicopters now and moving toward electric air taxis once regulators give the green light.