Electric air taxi startup Joby Aviation has announced a partnership with Virgin Atlantic to launch its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the UK, marking the seventh country in which the company hopes to commercialize its service. The partnership, which was first reported by TechCrunch seven months ago, will see Joby become Virgin's exclusive airline distribution partner in the UK.

While no timeline has been provided for the UK launch, a Joby spokesperson confirmed that it will come after the company launches its service in the UAE and the US. Joby is currently planning to begin market testing in Dubai late this year or early next, after delivering its first eVTOL aircraft to the country. The company had initially planned to launch a commercial service in the US in 2025, but that timeline may be pushed out as Joby works to obtain the necessary certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In October 2024, Joby announced that it was close to receiving type certification from the FAA, which signifies the approval of the vehicle's design. However, a spokesperson could not provide an updated timeline on the certification process. Joby will also need to obtain certifications from the UK Civil Aviation Authority before launching its service in the country, having applied for validation in July 2022.

Under the partnership, Virgin customers will be able to reserve a seat on Joby's aircraft through the Virgin Atlantic app and website. The service will initially connect passengers from Virgin's hubs at London's Heathrow and Manchester Airport, with plans to expand to a network of landing sites across the UK. Joby's eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry a pilot, four passengers, and some luggage, with the ability to fly at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, making a flight from Leeds to Manchester a 15-minute journey.

Partnering with airlines is a key strategy for eVTOL companies like Joby, with rival Archer Aviation having made similar deals with United and Southwest. Joby's partnership with Delta, which owns roughly half of Virgin, promises to allow customers to access a premium service that shuttles them from local vertiports directly to the airport. However, unlike Delta's investment in Joby, there is no investment component to the Virgin partnership.

In a statement, Virgin Atlantic said it would support Joby's go-to-market efforts in the UK by marketing the service to customers, working with regulators, and helping to "build support for the development of landing infrastructure at key airports." Joby has stated its intentions to launch an air taxi service in the US, the UK, the UAE, South Korea, Japan, India, and Australia, marking a significant expansion of its global footprint.

The partnership with Virgin Atlantic is a significant milestone for Joby Aviation, which went public in 2021 via a special purpose acquisition merger. As the company continues to work towards large-scale deployments, its partnerships with major airlines like Virgin and Delta will be crucial in helping it achieve its ambitious goals.