Battling your way to JFK usually involves some sort of brutal mix of astronomical surge pricing, unpredictable train delays, and pure travel anxiety.
Thankfully, those miserable airport commutes might soon become a thing of the past.
Joby Aviation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey just pulled off the very first point to point electric air taxi demonstration flights right here in the five boroughs.
According to a press release, the cutting edge aircraft successfully traveled between John F. Kennedy International Airport and multiple Manhattan heliports, officially bringing our wildest sci-fi dreams to life.
And starting this week, you can actually look up and spot these futuristic rides because live test flights are actively happening over the city this entire week!
What is going on with the tests this week?
Starting this week, you can catch a glimpse of the future as test flights zoom along existing helicopter routes across the city with human pilots at the controls.
While they are not taking everyday passengers just yet, these cutting edge electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (or eVTOLs) are making loops between John F. Kennedy International Airport and multiple Manhattan heliports, including the Downtown Skyport and Midtown locations on West 30th and East 34th Streets.
The goal of this week’s testing is to safely integrate this wild new technology into our famously complex local airspace without any hiccups.
The end of the miserable airport commute
These high tech rides are shaping up to be a massive game changer for urban travel.
Joby is actually teaming up with Delta Air Lines and Uber to create a totally seamless travel experience from your front door all the way to your terminal.
Here is a quick breakdown of what makes these new air taxis so incredibly cool:
- Lightning Fast Travel: Say goodbye to spending hours stuck in an expensive cab ride. These air taxis are actively designed to turn a grueling one or two hour slog to JFK into a breezy seven minute flight.
- Eco-Friendly Flying: Because they run entirely on battery power, these vehicles produce zero operating emissions. It is a huge step toward the Port Authority’s aggressive agenda to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
- Whisper Quiet: Forget the window shaking noise of a traditional helicopter. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt noted that these aircraft are a hundred times quieter and produce a soft whoosh sound that easily blends into the ambient noise of bustling city streets.
When can New Yorkers actually book a ride?
The flights happening right now are a major part of Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies Tour, which is a massive national showcase marking America’s 250th anniversary.
The aerospace company is currently in the final stages of its Federal Aviation Administration certification process.
Once fully cleared, they will be permitted to officially launch commercial operations across the country.
At the same time, the Port Authority is busy exploring ways to build out dedicated infrastructure for these vehicles, including a potential new vertiport at LaGuardia Airport.
So while you might still have to rely on the subway or a regular rideshare for a little while longer, just know a “flying taxI” option is coming sooner than you think.
