Story perspectives

Joby Aviation Completes JFK-Manhattan eVTOL Test, Service 2026

4/28/2026

Summary

Joby eVTOL Test

Joby Aviation flew eVTOL from JFK to Manhattan on April 27, 2026.
Aircraft N545JX landed at heliports on West 30th and East 34th Streets in under 10 minutes.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said the flights test electric aviation under the Federal Aviation Administration’s eIPP Pilot Program entered by Authority in 2026.
Joby plans passenger service by late 2026 with tickets $195, using Blade’s acquisition that served 90,000 passengers.

Summary

Garcia backs eVTOL

Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said the test flight demonstrates a commitment to future-focused aviation.
Garcia said operating busy airports requires weighing passenger, community and environmental impacts in electric-aviation plans.
Officials called the flight a data point in a larger program to develop regional electric aircraft.
They noted the technology could eventually cut organ-transport travel from hours to minutes, enabling time-sensitive missions.

History

Historical Context

In 2016 Uber launched its Elevate program, pledging commercial eVTOL service by 2023 after securing a $500 million investment and partnering with Bell, the FAA and the New York-New Jersey Port Authority. After acquiring Elevate in December 2020, Joby Aviation built on that data, and on 12 November 2023 its S4 demonstrator flew from JFK to Manhattan under Chairman Kevin O’Toole and Executive Director Kathryn Garcia.

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Joby eVTOL Test

Joby Aviation flew eVTOL from JFK to Manhattan on April 27, 2026.
Aircraft N545JX landed at heliports on West 30th and East 34th Streets in under 10 minutes.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said the flights test electric aviation under the Federal Aviation Administration’s eIPP Pilot Program entered by Authority in 2026.
Joby plans passenger service by late 2026 with tickets $195, using Blade’s acquisition that served 90,000 passengers.

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