Uber is officially transitioning from the road to the sky. On Wednesday, the ride-hailing giant previewed its long-awaited air taxi booking service, which is slated to launch in Dubai later this year. The program utilizes electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Joby Aviation, fully integrating aerial travel into the existing Uber app ecosystem.
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Ordering an aerial ride is designed to mirror the standard Uber experience. When a user enters a destination on an eligible route, “Uber Air” will appear alongside traditional vehicle options. The service provides an end-to-end travel solution: the app automatically books an Uber Black to transport the passenger to a Joby “vertiport,” secures the flight, and arranges a final vehicle pickup at the destination landing site.
The aircraft are engineered specifically for rapid urban transit, featuring an interior comparable in size to a mid-sized SUV.
- Capacity: Up to four passengers plus luggage.
- Performance: Top speeds of 200 mph and a range of 100 miles.
- Safety: Equipped with four independent battery packs and a triple-redundant flight computer.
- Experience: The cabin features panoramic windows and premium seating to provide a “luxury” commute above city traffic.
Despite the technical sophistication and the requirement of a human pilot, who commands a significantly higher salary than a standard gig-economy driver, Uber claims pricing will be competitive. The company aims to keep fares roughly equivalent to an Uber Black trip.
While Dubai serves as the pilot market, Joby is currently in the final stages of FAA type certification in the United States, with New York and Los Angeles targeted for the next phase of expansion. International interest is also brewing in the UK and Japan.
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The path to American skies remains contentious. While recent executive orders have cleared the way for testing pilot programs, aviation experts remain sceptical. Critics point to the inherent dangers of operating low-altitude aircraft over densely populated areas, citing historical helicopter accidents as a grim precedent.
Furthermore, some industry analysts argue that the high cost of manufacturing and maintaining these fleets makes them economically unfeasible without government subsidies. Whether Uber and Joby can produce these vehicles in high enough volumes to achieve profitability remains the ultimate “grounding” question for the industry.
The collaboration between the two companies dates back to 2019. In 2021, Joby solidified the relationship by acquiring Uber Elevate, the tech firm’s dedicated aerial division. Following Joby’s recent acquisition of Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business, the company is now positioned to eventually electrify existing short-haul helicopter routes, further consolidating its lead in the emerging urban air mobility market.
