Thursday, July 23, 2026
Joby and Virgin Atlantic finalize exclusive UK air taxi deal
Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic signed a definitive agreement at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 22, converting their 2025 partnership into a binding, multi-year commercial framework that names Virgin Atlantic as Joby's exclusive UK airline partner for air taxi service. Joby will operate its all-electric aircraft and secure UK Civil Aviation Authority approvals while Virgin integrates bookings into its website and app, with initial hubs planned in London and Manchester and early routes such as an eight-minute Heathrow-to-central-London hop. The deal deepens Joby's ties to the Delta-Virgin group, since Delta owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic and is already Joby's U.S. airline partner.