Updated Tuesday, December 19 at 10:15 a.m. EDT with additional information from Joby.
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Joby Aviation believes 2026 will be the year its air taxi begins flying passengers.
Why Joby Thinks Passenger Air Taxi Service Will Lift Off in 2026
Developer recaps a year of flight testing ahead of planned type inspection authorization trials with the FAA in 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Joby Aviation aims to launch passenger air taxi service in 2026, building on extensive flight testing in 2025, which saw a 260% increase in flights and the vehicle performing within FAA airworthiness standards.
- The company is preparing for FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) testing in 2026 and is also exploring a "qualification program" in the UAE that could allow for pre-certification noncommercial passenger flights to gather data.
- Joby demonstrated its S4 aircraft in various international locations, including Japan and Dubai, and engaged in point-to-point flights and testing of future technologies like a hybrid prototype and autonomous systems.
- Despite Joby's significant progress and partnerships, industry analysts are pushing back commercial launch forecasts for eVTOLs, including Joby's, by at least six months due to slower-than-expected progression to TIA and accumulated flight hours.
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