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Uber users in New York will soon be able to book helicopter flights to John F. Kennedy Airport, Newark Airport and the Hamptons — directly from the ride-hailing app.
The new service follows Uber’s expanded global partnership with Joby Aviation, which recently acquired the passenger business of Blade Air Mobility in a deal valued at $125 million.
Blade, which is run by CEO Rob Wiesenthal, ferried more than 50,000 passengers in 2024 across New York and Southern Europe.
Its New York network includes terminals at JFK, Newark, two in Manhattan and one in the Hamptons. In Europe, Blade runs flights along the French Riviera, linking Nice, Monaco and St. Tropez.
Starting next year, those services will be available at the touch of a button in the Uber app. A source with knowledge of the situation told The Post that the prices will be similar to those offered up by Blade as of this writing.
Today, the price for a Blade airport helicopter flight between Manhattan and JFK or Newark is typically $95 per flight for those who pay $195 for the annual pass. By comparison, an Uber Black ride to JFK from Manhattan can easily surpass $100 depending on surge varies, distance and car type.
Regular Blade fares for the same route, without a pass or discount, can be higher — usually ranging from $195 to $225 per person depending on how far in advance the booking is made.
Blade users who wish to book their trips through the company’s app will still be able to do so even after the rollout of the Uber collaboration.
Blade helicopter flights in Manhattan typically depart from Blade Lounge West on W 30th St, with Manhattan Helicopters at 6 E River Piers serving as an alternative site for select routes and charters.
“We believe this expanded global partnership will accelerate the adoption of urban air travel,” said Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt.
“By integrating Blade’s established routes into the Uber app, we can introduce more people to the convenience of air mobility sooner.”
Uber President and COO Andrew Macdonald said that “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.”
“By harnessing the scale of the Uber platform and partnering with Joby, the industry leader in advanced air mobility, we’re excited to bring our customers the next generation of travel,” Macdonald said.
For now, the flights will rely on Blade’s existing helicopter network.
But once Joby’s all-electric eVTOL aircraft wins Federal Aviation Administration certification, the rides will shift to quieter, zero-emission aircraft.
Joby’s aircraft, known as eVTOLs — electric vertical takeoff and landing planes — can carry four passengers and a pilot, fly at 200 mph and produce 100 times less noise than a conventional helicopter.
Joby says the integration will give millions of Uber customers a seamless, multi-modal booking experience — ground to air travel in one app.
The company intends to electrify Blade’s routes over time, starting in New York and eventually in other major cities including Los Angeles, Dubai, London and Tokyo.
Joby has been working with Uber since 2019, when the companies first teamed up on air mobility. In 2021, Joby acquired Uber’s Elevate division, cementing their partnership.
Blade currently operates in New York and Southern Europe, with hubs linking airports to city centers and leisure destinations.
The move marks Uber’s biggest push yet into short-distance air travel.
The companies did not announce pricing for flights booked through Uber.
The rollout in New York will serve as the test case for expansion into other global markets, pending regulatory approvals.
Environmental groups and local politicians in New York have kept pressure on helicopter operators.
Earlier this year, city lawmakers floated stricter limits on tourist flights. Regulators will likely scrutinize Joby’s next moves as the eVTOL era begins .
