An eight-minute hop from Heathrow to central London and a quarter of an hour from Manchester Airport to Leeds.
That is the pitch Virgin Atlantic and Joby Aviation put to the business travel market on Wednesday, as the two companies signed a binding, multi-year agreement at the Farnborough International Airshow to bring electric air taxis to the UK.
The deal converts a partnership first announced in 2025 into a commercial framework, making Virgin Atlantic the exclusive airline partner for Joby’s UK air taxi service. It builds on Joby’s existing tie-up with Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic.
Under the agreement, Virgin will sell the service through its own app and website, allowing travellers to book an air taxi connection alongside a long-haul ticket. London and Manchester are the launch hubs, with Manchester anchoring connections across the North of England.
“This agreement marks an exciting next chapter in our partnership with Joby and a significant step towards bringing electric air taxi services to the UK,” said Corneel Koster, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic. “Together, we’ll create more seamless journeys for our customers, making it easier than ever to travel between towns, cities and our airports.”
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