Joby Aviation is buying Blade Air Mobility’s helicopter ride-share business for up to $125 million. The deal covers Blade’s brand and passenger operations in the US and Europe. Blade’s medical division stays separate.
Blade’s network includes 12 terminals in key spots like JFK, Newark, and multiple Manhattan locations. The company’s ride-share service has clocked over 50,000 passengers so far in 2024.
Blade founder and CEO Rob Wiesenthal stays on to lead the business, now a fully owned Joby subsidiary. 
Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt called the acquisition “strategically important” for Joby’s commercial launch in Dubai and global rollout plans. Joby will merge its software, made for air taxi operations, with Blade’s passenger service.
Joby has been developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for years. Eventually, Blade’s service will switch from helicopters to Joby’s electric air taxis.
Joby went public in 2021 through a SPAC backed by Reid Hoffman and Mark Pincus and is backed by Toyota.
Joby is holding back $35 million of the purchase price until Blade hits performance targets and keeps key staff.
JoeBen Bevirt stated:
“The deal gives us an instant foothold in top markets and a well-established platform to accelerate the adoption of electric air taxis.”
