A VIP trip to the airport may soon be a tap away.
Rideshare company Uber plans to offer seats on Blade helicopters and seaplanes directly through its app, allowing customers to book fast rides between city hubs, to airports, and more, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. Currently, space on Blade’s helicopters to the airport start at $195 per person (significantly more than a typical Uber ride), while larger groups can instead charter an entire Blade helicopter accommodating up to eight passengers starting at around $2,000, according to the helicopter company.
“Since Uber’s earliest days, we’ve believed in the power of advanced air mobility to deliver safe, quiet, and sustainable transportation to cities around the world,” Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s president and COO, said in a statement shared with T+L. “By harnessing the scale of the Uber platform… we’re excited to bring our customers the next generation of travel.”
A specific launch date was not immediately clear, but Uber said the feature would not be available until at least 2026.
Blade operates flights across southern Europe along with the New York area, including to the Hamptons in Long Island and major airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). In Europe, Blade offers trips from Nice to both Cannes and Monaco.
While undoubtedly costly, Blade can be a time-saving tool since traffic can heavily impact driving times, especially in large cities. Driving from New York City to JFK, for example, can often take an hour or longer, but Blade said a helicopter ride from the company’s launchpad in Manhattan to the airport takes just 5 minutes. Upon landing, a Blade vehicle then takes passengers to their departure terminal.
Last month, Blade’s passenger business was acquired by Joby Aviation, an electric air taxi company that aims to eventually operate rideshare-style electric aircraft. The company has partnered with Delta Air Lines, which plans to feature it on the carrier’s new artificial intelligence-powered Delta Concierge. Delta passengers can also earn points for rides and purchases on Uber.
“We’re excited to introduce Uber customers to the magic of seamless urban air travel,” JoeBen Bevirt, the founder and CEO of Joby, said in the statement shared with T+L. “Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership with Uber and will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead. Together with Uber’s global platform and Blade’s proven network, we’re setting the stage for a new era of air travel worldwide.
