In a major breakthrough for the advancement of air mobility, Joby Aviation has secured an exclusive six-year deal with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in the Emirate by early 2026. The agreement, signed at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, grants Joby the rights to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years, with initial operations targeted to begin as early as 2025.
Under the agreement, Joby will work closely with Skyports, who will design, build, and operate four initial vertiport sites across Dubai. The launch locations for Dubai’s air taxi service have been identified as Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Downtown.
Joby’s aircraft, which was showcased in the region for the first time at the World Governments Summit, is capable of carrying a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. The company expects the journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah to take just 10 minutes, significantly reducing travel time compared to the 45-minute drive by car.
The agreement between Joby, Skyports, and the RTA marks a significant milestone for the advancement of air mobility, providing a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation for residents and visitors to Dubai. JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, expressed his excitement about partnering with the government of Dubai to bring sustainable air travel to the forefront.
“Today’s landmark agreement delivers on all three ingredients required to successfully launch an air taxi service – a definitive path to operations, well-placed infrastructure supported by dedicated partners, and an aircraft with the capacity and range to deliver meaningful journeys,” Bevirt said. “We’re looking forward to delivering an incredible experience for residents and visitors to Dubai as early as 2025 and we’re excited to be laying the groundwork for the expansion of our service across the wider UAE.”
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors for RTA, echoed Bevirt’s sentiments, stating that the air taxi service is part of RTA’s efforts to embrace future transportation technologies and offer a novel and efficient mobility option for Dubai’s residents and visitors.
The collaboration between Joby, Skyports, and the RTA is seen as a significant step towards realizing the vision of advanced air mobility (AAM), which seeks to revolutionize the way people travel by leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative business models. With the backing of prominent investors such as Toyota and Intel, Joby Aviation is well-positioned to lead the charge in making AAM a reality.
The exclusive six-year deal between Joby and the RTA raises questions about the role of government support in fostering the growth of AAM. While some argue that government involvement is essential to facilitate the transition to new modes of transportation, others believe that the private sector should take the lead in driving innovation and adoption.
Regardless of one’s position on the matter, there is no denying that the partnership between Joby, Skyports, and the RTA marks a significant step forward for AAM. As the technology continues to evolve and gain traction, it is likely that we will see similar collaborations emerge in other regions, paving the way for a more sustainable and connected future.
Via: https://ir.jobyaviation.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/87/joby-to-launch-air-taxi-service-in-uae