Joby's electric air taxi makes European debut at Farnborough International Airshow

The aircraft is the first eVTOL to have its certification plans accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is now working toward full approval, with type certification expected next year. Discussions for further local approvals are ongoing in the UK and Japan, anticipated to follow soon after U.S. certification.

In November, Joby performed the first flight by an eVTOL in New York City. In September, it claimed the first delivery of an eVTOL to a customer—the U.S. Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California—as part of the USAF’s Afwerx Agility Prime transformative vertical lift development effort. Further deliveries from early production are planned for the service. The company is also collaborating closely with major transportation companies such as Delta Air Lines, Toyota, and Uber.

Joby views Europe as a significant market for eVTOL urban air mobility applications. In the UK, London is a primary target area. The company has also proposed a potential network for northern England and the north Midlands that would connect cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, and Nottingham. This network aims to provide rapid air taxi services in regions with limited connectivity; for example, a zero-emission journey from Manchester Airport to Leeds could be completed in 15 minutes compared to an average of 90 minutes by road.