Electric air taxi developer Joby Aviation has agreed to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s helicopter ride-share business for up to $125 million. Joby will acquire the Blade brand and its passenger business, including U.S. and European operations. Blade founder and CEO Rob Wiesenthal will continue to lead the business, which will function as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby. Blade’s medical division, which transports organs, is not part of the deal and remains a separate entity.
This acquisition provides Joby immediate access to a network of 12 terminals in major markets such as New York City, including a dedicated lounge and terminal bases at JFK International Airport, Newark Liberty Airport, and various locations in Manhattan. Founded in 2014, Blade developed a digital network for booking private helicopter rides on several short-hop routes, gaining popularity among affluent clients looking to avoid traffic between suburbs, Manhattan, and The Hamptons, as well as routes from Nice, France, to Monaco and Saint-Tropez. Blade flew over 50,000 passengers in 2024.
Joby Aviation’s founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt considers this acquisition “strategically important” for launching its commercial operations in Dubai and subsequent global rollout. Joby intends to integrate its air taxi management software into Blade’s passenger service. Founded in 2009, Joby has been developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial taxi service in cities for over a decade. The companies plan to replace Blade’s helicopters with electric air taxis eventually.
Toyota-backed Joby went public in 2021 via a merger with Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company backed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Zynga founder Mark Pincus. Under the agreement terms, Joby is withholding $35 million of the purchase price, which will be released if Blade achieves certain performance milestones and retains specific key employees.