Uber is adding Joby air taxis to its app

Uber wants your next ride to come with a pilot.

The company has announced Uber Air powered by Joby, which will let riders book Joby Aviation’s all-electric air taxis directly in the Uber app, alongside the usual ground options.

Joby expects to carry its first passengers later this year in Dubai, a milestone in the companies’ partnership to build what they describe as multi-modal transportation in cities around the world.

So what does this look like for riders? 

Uber says customers will open the app, enter their destination in the “Where to?” bar, and—if the trip qualifies—Uber Air powered by Joby will appear as an option. 

A single tap would book each leg of the journey, including Uber Black pickup and drop-off.

Joby’s aircraft is being designed for up to four passengers and would be flown by a certified commercial pilot. 

Uber also says the aircraft will feature large windows intended to offer panoramic views of the city.

On the aircraft side, Joby’s air taxi uses six tilting propellers to take off vertically before transitioning into forward flight. 

It can travel at speeds of up to 200 mph, with a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge.

That’s one way to dodge rush-hour traffic.  

The companies say the aircraft is designed for city use, with multiple levels of redundancies to enhance safety and a noise profile intended to be quiet enough to blend into typical street-level sounds.

Joby and Uber have been working together on urban air mobility since 2019. 

In 2021, Joby acquired Uber’s Elevate division, which the companies say helped establish the sector and develop tools for market selection, demand simulation, and multi-modal operations.

The partnership also ties into Blade’s commercial helicopter service, which Uber and Joby previously said would be brought to the Uber app in 2026, following Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business. 

The companies have pointed to longer-term expansion markets including Dubai, New York, Los Angeles, the United Kingdom, and Japan, pending approvals.

In other words, there’s still runway ahead.

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