Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) shares jumped 7.5% on Wednesday after the company partnered with Uber (NYSE:UBER) to introduce a new air taxi booking option in Dubai, marking a key milestone in the rollout of commercial urban air mobility services.
The newly launched offering, branded Uber Air powered by Joby, enables customers to reserve flights on Joby’s all-electric air taxis directly through the Uber app. The company expects to begin carrying passengers in Dubai later this year.
Users can access the service by entering their destination in the Uber app. When eligible, the Uber Air powered by Joby option will appear alongside traditional ride choices, allowing passengers to book a fully integrated journey that includes Uber Black ground transportation for pickup and drop-off.
Joby’s aircraft is designed to carry up to four passengers alongside a certified commercial pilot. The electric air taxi features six tilting propellers that allow vertical takeoff and landing before transitioning into forward flight, reaching speeds of up to 200 mph with a range of approximately 100 miles per charge.
In the United States, commercial deployment will require full certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. Joby said it has already completed more than 50,000 miles of flight testing and has entered the final phase of the certification process.
The collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership between Joby and Uber that began in 2019. Joby acquired Uber’s Elevate division in 2021, and the companies last year outlined plans to integrate Blade’s helicopter services into the Uber platform in 2026 following Joby’s purchase of Blade’s passenger operations. The partners ultimately aim to expand electric air taxi services into major markets including New York, Los Angeles, the United Kingdom, and Japan.