Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic have signed a definitive agreement at the Farnborough International Airshow, formalising their partnership to introduce electric air taxi services in the United Kingdom. The agreement builds on the collaboration first announced in 2025 and establishes Virgin Atlantic as Joby’s exclusive airline partner for air taxi services in the UK.
The multi-year commercial agreement strengthens Joby’s existing relationship with Delta Air Lines, which owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. Together, the three companies aim to provide seamless, integrated travel by connecting passengers between cities and major airports using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Under the agreement, Virgin Atlantic will offer Joby’s air taxi services through its website and mobile app, allowing passengers to book air taxi connections alongside their long-haul flights. Joby will oversee aircraft operations, route management and regulatory approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), while Virgin Atlantic will support customer acquisition and infrastructure integration at its airport hubs.
The companies plan to launch initial services from Virgin Atlantic’s hubs in London and Manchester. Early routes are expected to include Manchester Airport to Leeds in around 15 minutes and Heathrow Airport to Central London in as little as eight minutes, significantly reducing travel times compared with road transport.
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Corneel Koster, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said the agreement represents an important milestone in bringing advanced air mobility to the UK.
“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. 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,” Koster said.
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, said the UK offers significant growth opportunities for electric air mobility.
“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. 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,” Bevirt said.
Joby’s eVTOL aircraft uses six tilting propellers, enabling vertical take-off and landing while producing significantly less noise than conventional helicopters. Designed for rapid, back-to-back operations, the aircraft is expected to serve routes of up to 100 miles.
The company has completed thousands of test flights, including recent demonstrations in San Francisco and New York City, where it successfully operated flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Manhattan. Earlier this month, Joby also showcased a full-scale model of its aircraft at Potters Fields Park in London, allowing the public to experience the cabin ahead of the planned UK launch.
Joby said certification of its aircraft continues under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, supporting the company’s plans to introduce commercial operations in the UK.
