Joby Aviation Completes First Point-to-Point eVTOL Demonstrations in New York City

From April 27 to May 6, 2026, Joby Aviation flew its vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft between JFK and three Manhattan heliports—Downtown Skyport, West 30th Street and East 34th Street. Piloted trips took seven to ten minutes, versus 60-120-minute drive.

Electric Air Taxis In The Big Apple: Joby Begins 1st Flights From JFK To Manhattan For 10 Days

The flights belong to the U.S. DOT’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), selected by FAA and Port Authority, which follows a rise in helicopter noise complaints—59,000 calls in 2023 versus 3,300 in 2019—and a 2023 crash that raised safety concerns. Joby’s N545JX seats five (including pilot) or four passengers plus pilot per Port Authority. It has six propellers, each with two electric motors and three flight computers. Noise is “a hundred times quieter” than helicopters. Flights last 7-10 minutes; fares $150-$250, with a $195 target. Demo runs alongside FAA’s five-stage certification.

CNN

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said the agency must test and shape new aviation. Executive Director Kathryn Garcia stressed defining future aviation for passengers. NYCEDC president Jeanny Pak called the flights a milestone proving advanced air mobility is no longer a fantasy. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt highlighted the zero-emission, quiet service; Executive Chairman Paul Sciarra noted the aim to match Uber pricing with five-to-ten-fold speed gains.

Fox News (website)

Prices of $150-$250 raise affordability concerns; safety skeptics cite the helicopter crash and FAA certification. Users posted “Epic views” and “Can I get a ride?” Sources differ on capacity (four-plus-pilot vs five) and fare range. Service may begin within a year or roll out in late 2026. No passengers rode the test flights.

CNN

• “These flights advance our work to determine how next-generation aviation technology can serve the people of New York and New Jersey.” — Kevin O’Toole, Port Authority Chairman

Fox News (website)

• “It is apparently 100 times quieter than a traditional helicopter.” — Kathryn Garcia, Port Authority Executive Director

ABC7 New York

• “Our target for the aircraft is essentially to be equivalent over time to what Uber costs today and get people to the destination five to 10 times faster and do that at greater safety than helicopters or even driving on the ground,” — Paul Sciarra, Joby Executive Chairman

Bloomberg

• “We first flew here in 2023, and now we’re showing what the next chapter looks like: a quiet, zero operating emissions air taxi service designed to better serve New Yorkers.” — JoeBen Bevirt, Joby CEO

Joby Brings Electric Air Taxis to New York City in Week-Long Flight Campaign

Joby aims for FAA certification and passenger launches in New York, Texas and Florida in late 2026, with a Dubai rollout later. The Port Authority will keep electrifying heliports, and integration with Uber and Delta will enable end-to-end travel. eIPP data will shape national eVTOL regulations.

CNN