Joby Aviation (JOBY.N) said on Sunday it has agreed to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s helicopter ride-share business for up to $125 million, in a move aimed at accelerating its entry into urban passenger transport.
The deal includes the Blade brand and its passenger operations in the United States and Europe, but excludes the company’s medical division, which will remain independent. Blade founder and CEO Rob Wiesenthal will continue to lead the business, which will operate as a wholly owned Joby subsidiary.
Founded in 2014, Blade operates a booking network for chartered helicopters on high-demand short routes, such as between Manhattan and The Hamptons, and in southern France between Nice, Monaco and Saint-Tropez. The company flew more than 50,000 passengers in 2024, using a digital platform rather than owning aircraft.
Joby said the acquisition will give it access to 12 key terminals, including dedicated lounges and bases at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty Airport, and multiple Manhattan heliports.
“This is a strategically important acquisition that will support our launch of commercial operations in Dubai and our subsequent global rollout,” Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt said. The California-based company plans to integrate its air taxi operations software into Blade’s service, with a long-term goal of replacing helicopters with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Toyota-backed Joby went public in 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company backed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Zynga founder Mark Pincus. Under the agreement, $35 million of the purchase price will be contingent on Blade meeting performance targets and retaining key staff.