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 is targeting 2026 for the launch of its S4 air taxi passenger service, planning integration with platforms like Blade and Uber and partnerships with Delta Air Lines.
- The company significantly increased its flight testing in 2025, completing over 850 flights and 9,000 miles, including public demonstrations and point-to-point flights across Japan, Dubai, and California.
- Joby is preparing to begin FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) testing in 2026 with its first type-conforming aircraft and is exploring a "qualification program" in the UAE that could facilitate pre-certification passenger flights.
- Despite Joby's progress, industry forecasts suggest potential delays for commercial service beyond 2026 due to the slow advancement of eVTOL developers to official FAA TIA testing.
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