Remember those old science fiction movies with sky-high taxis? It turns out those futuristic rides are closer than we thought. Soon, you might find yourself hailing a helicopter right from your Uber app.
This week, Uber announced big news. They plan to add helicopter flights from Blade directly into their application. This move comes from their ongoing work with Joby Aviation, a company known for making electric air taxis.
JoeBen Bevirt, who founded and leads Joby, shared his excitement. He said adding Blade to Uber is a clear next step in their world-wide partnership. He believes it will set things up for their quiet, zero-emission aircraft in the next few years.
This announcement follows a major business deal. In August, Joby completed its purchase of Blade, a company focused on helicopters and air transport. The deal was worth $125 million. CNBC reported that this acquisition did not include Blade’s medical organ transplant division.
Blade has a track record of moving people. Last year, they transported at least 50,000 passengers. These flights took off from 12 different urban locations.
Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s President and Chief Operating Officer, thinks this partnership will show customers how people will travel next. Supporters of commercial air travel see it as a smart way to ease traffic jams. It could also help cut down on pollution. The future of city travel might just be looking up.