Joby Kicks Off NYC Electric Air Taxi Demos With Historic JFK Flight

More trials will come to New York and 25 other states in the coming months.

Jack Daleo

Monday, April 27, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Joby Aviation’s production prototype electric air taxi, N545JX, sits on the tarmac at Modern Aviation JFK ahead of a historic demonstration flight on Monday. [Credit: Jack Daleo]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation successfully completed New York City's first electric air taxi flight from a major airport (JFK) to Manhattan, marking a significant milestone in urban air mobility.
These initial flights are part of broader demonstrations and an FAA integration program (eIPP) across 26 states, involving multiple companies, to test and integrate eVTOLs into the national airspace.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is actively preparing infrastructure, including future vertiports, to enable routine electric air taxi services for airport transfers and other applications, aiming to drastically cut travel times.

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New Yorkers this week are getting a glimpse of the future of aviation, as electric air taxis soar across the city’s network of airports and heliports for the first time.

After conducting a handful of test flights over the weekend, a Joby Aviation production prototype eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft lifted off Monday from John F. Kennedy International (KJFK), marking the first time an electric air taxi has departed one of New York City’s three major airports.