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14.41
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Impact LevelMedium
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Scope LevelNational
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Last Update2025-08-04
Key Impacts
Positive Impacts (8)
Negative Impacts (1)
Event Overview
A corporate acquisition in the aviation sector highlights strategic consolidation to accelerate urban air mobility infrastructure development. The transaction integrates existing passenger terminals and customer networks into a single entity, reflecting competitive pressures to scale operations in emerging air taxi markets. Themes include corporate expansion strategies, infrastructure integration challenges, and regulatory considerations for urban aviation services.
Collect Records
Joby Aviation Acquires Blade's Passenger Business for $125 Million to Accelerate Urban Air Taxi Services
On June 18, 2024, Joby Aviation announced an agreement to acquire the passenger business of Blade Air Mobility for $125 million. The deal is designed to accelerate Joby's plans for commercial air taxi operations in key urban centers. Blade’s passenger operations currently serve more than 50,000 passengers in 2024 through a network of 12 urban terminals in high-traffic locations, including dedicated lounges and terminals at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty Airport, and various sites in Manhattan.
Following the acquisition, Blade will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby, with the business continuing under the leadership of Blade founder and CEO Rob Wiesenthal. Joby aims to utilize Blade’s established infrastructure and loyal customer base, gradually transitioning users from conventional helicopters to Joby’s new electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The integration is expected to reduce infrastructure investments and customer acquisition costs for Joby, while supporting commercial launches, notably in Dubai in 2025.
Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt stated: "This is a strategically important acquisition that will support the successful launch of Joby’s commercial operations in Dubai, our subsequent global rollout and our continued leadership in the sector. Over the last decade, Rob and the team at Blade have built a world-class passenger experience that demonstrates the value of vertical lift. With access to the infrastructure they have secured and the loyal customer base they have developed, we will be in the best possible position to launch our quiet, electric aircraft as soon as certification is secured."
The transaction also establishes Joby as the preferred VTOL partner for Blade’s organ transport business, which will become a separate public company named Strata Critical Medical. Additionally, Joby will integrate its ElevateOS software—designed for high-frequency air taxi operations—into Blade's services for enhanced cost efficiency and passenger experience. All current Blade passenger services will continue without interruption throughout the transition.