This article is based on an official press release from Joby Aviation and additional market research.

Joby Aviation Completes Record-Breaking 2025 Flight Campaign, Targets 2026 Launch

Joby Aviation has officially concluded its 2025 flight test campaign, marking a pivotal year in the company’s transition from engineering development to operational maturity. According to a press release issued by the company on December 15, 2025, Joby completed its final international flight demonstration of the year at Japan’s Fuji Speedway, capping off a record-breaking twelve months of testing.

The Santa Cruz-based electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer reported that its fleet covered more than 50,000 miles (approximately 80,000 km) throughout 2025. This distance was achieved across more than 850 individual flights, representing a significant escalation in activity as the company prepares for commercial service. Joby stated that this operational tempo reflected a 2.6-fold increase in flight volume compared to 2024.

While the company had previously eyed 2025 for initial commercial operations, the focus of the past year remained heavily on validation and regulatory compliance. The data gathered during these extensive tests is intended to support the final phases of Certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with commercial passenger service now targeted for 2026.

Operational Milestones and Global Testing

Joby’s 2025 campaign was characterized by a shift toward high-tempo operational simulation. The company conducted Test-Flights in three major international markets, demonstrating the aircraft’s capabilities in diverse environmental conditions and controlled airspace.

Key Performance Metrics

According to the company’s official statement, the 2025 testing program achieved the following milestones:

• Total Flights: Over 850 flights completed globally.
• Distance Flown: More than 50,000 miles accumulated in a single year.
• Operational Growth: A 260% increase in flight volume year-over-year.

International Demonstrations

The press release highlights three primary regions where testing took place:

• United States: Extensive testing continued in California, alongside a landmark exhibition flight in New York City, a key launch market for the company.
• Japan: In partnership with Toyota Motor Corporation, Joby conducted 14 piloted flights at the Fuji Speedway. These flights are part of the preparation for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
• United Arab Emirates: Joby completed its first piloted air taxi flight in Dubai, landing at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

James “Buddy” Denham, Chief Test Pilot at Joby Aviation, emphasized the significance of these real-world conditions in the company’s announcement:

“2025 saw the most extensive and rigorous flight testing in our history. Flying in active, controlled airspace in three countries… has been a powerful showcase of Joby’s operational maturity.”

The Path to Certification and Commercialization

The data collected throughout 2025 is critical for Joby’s ongoing certification efforts. The company is currently in Stage 4 of the FAA Type Certification process. The flight logs and telemetry from the past year will support the upcoming “Type Inspection Authorization” (TIA) phase in 2026, a rigorous step where FAA pilots will fly the aircraft for certification credit.

Joby has confirmed that its commercial Launch is now scheduled for 2026. This timeline aligns with their strategic agreements in key markets. In Dubai, Joby has secured a 6-year exclusive agreement to operate air taxis, with operations expected to commence as early as 2026. Similarly, launch plans for New York and Los Angeles are proceeding in partnership with Delta Air Lines and Uber.

AirPro News Analysis: Competitive Landscape

While Joby Aviation’s press release focuses on its own operational achievements, the broader eVTOL sector saw intense competition throughout 2025. Based on available market research and industry reports, Joby appears to maintain a lead in terms of actual flight data and miles flown.

Joby vs. The Field:

• Joby Aviation: Leader in flight volume (850+ flights in 2025) and capitalization, with approximately $1 billion in cash reserves reported late in the year.
• Archer Aviation: A strong contender, particularly in the UAE, where it is pushing aggressively for a late 2025 or early 2026 launch.
• Vertical Aerospace: Continues piloted flight tests but faces a tighter financial runway compared to its US-based rivals.
• Lilium: Manned flight testing was pushed to early 2025, with certification targeted for 2026.

Financial data from late 2025 indicates that the market has responded positively to Joby’s progress. The company’s stock (NYSE: JOBY) saw growth of approximately 80-90% year-to-date by December, valuing the company at approximately $13–14 billion. This valuation positions Joby as the most valuable pure-play eVTOL company in the current market.

Strategic Outlook for 2026

The coming year represents the final hurdle for Joby Aviation. With the “Year of the Pilot” concluded, the focus shifts entirely to regulatory finalization. The transition from manufacturer testing to FAA-led testing during the TIA phase will be the ultimate test of the aircraft’s safety and reliability.

In its press statement, the company noted:

“The flight data and insights accumulated this year are directly supporting the final stages of Joby’s FAA certification efforts.”

As the industry races toward the first commercial passenger flight, Joby’s strategy of accumulating massive amounts of flight data appears designed to minimize risk during these final certification stages. With a strong cash position and a proven airframe, the company is well-positioned to execute its 2026 launch plans in Dubai and the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Joby Aviation launch commercial service?
Joby is targeting a commercial launch in 2026, following the completion of FAA certification.

Where will Joby fly first?
The company has announced launch plans for Dubai (UAE), New York, and Los Angeles. Dubai is expected to be one of the first operational markets due to an exclusive 6-year agreement.

Is the Joby aircraft safe?
Joby is currently in Stage 4 of the FAA Type Certification process. The aircraft has undergone rigorous testing, including over 50,000 miles flown in 2025 alone, to prove its safety and reliability to regulators.

Who are Joby’s main partners?
Key partners include Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturing and testing support), Delta Air Lines, and Uber.

Sources

• Joby Aviation Press Release

This article is based on an official press release from LIFT Aircraft.

LIFT Aircraft Initiates FAA Certification, Targeting Commercial Air Taxi Operations

LIFT Aircraft has officially initiated the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certification process for the “Certified Edition” of its HEXA electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. According to a company press release, this move marks a significant strategic pivot for the Austin-based manufacturers, transitioning from operating solely under “Ultralight” regulations to seeking full commercial approval for broader applications.

The certification effort focuses on the HEXA-C model, which is intended for commercial air taxi services and autonomous operations. LIFT Aircraft confirmed that the aircraft will be certified under the FAA’s Part 21.17(b) special class for powered-lift aircraft. This is the same rigorous regulatory pathway currently being navigated by major industry competitors such as Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation.

The “Three-Tier” Product Strategy

Unlike many competitors who aim for a single, high-performance aircraft launch, LIFT Aircraft has outlined a distinct “three-tier” product roadmap. This strategy allows the company to utilize substantially similar aircraft platforms across different regulatory environments, generating operational data and revenue prior to full certification.

According to the company’s announcement, the three versions of the HEXA platform include:

• HEXA-U (Ultralight): Regulated under 14 CFR Part 103, this version requires no pilot license and is currently active. It is limited to recreational use in uncongested, rural areas with a flight time of approximately 15 minutes.
• HEXA-S (Sport): Currently in development, this model targets the proposed MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates) rule. It would require a Sport Pilot License and allow for personal sport flying in congested or urban environments.
• HEXA-C (Certified): The subject of the recent FAA initiation, this model is designed for commercial air taxi and cargo use under Part 21.17(b). It features upgraded avionics, an approximate 40-minute flight time, and capabilities for fully autonomous flight.

“From day one, our strategy has been to launch first in the recreational market… This approach drastically reduces development risk and cost compared to competitors attempting to certify unproven aircraft from scratch.”

, LIFT Aircraft Press Statement

Technical Specifications and Safety

The HEXA platform utilizes a distributed electric propulsion system featuring 18 independent motors and propellers. LIFT Aircraft states that the design offers significant redundancy, capable of flying safely even with up to six motors disabled. For emergency contingencies, the aircraft is equipped with a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute system.

The standard design includes floats, enabling amphibious operations, a critical safety feature for the company’s current over-water experiential flights. While the current Ultralight and Sport versions utilize semi-autonomous control via a joystick or iPad, the Certified Edition is being developed to support fully autonomous operations.

AirPro News Analysis: The “Fly-Before-Certify” Approach

LIFT Aircraft’s strategy diverges sharply from the “all-or-nothing” capital-intensive models seen elsewhere in the eVTOL sector. By utilizing the Part 103 Ultralight rule, LIFT has been able to fly paying customers in controlled environments, such as their vertiport in Austin, Texas.

We observe that this approach provides two distinct advantages. First, it generates immediate revenue, a rarity in a sector defined by high cash burn rates. Second, it allows the company to accumulate thousands of real-world flight logs. While competitors rely heavily on simulations and prototype testing, LIFT is entering the certification phase with a dataset derived from active operations. This “consumerizing flying” approach, as described by CEO Matt Chasen, attempts to validate engineering reliability before facing the scrutiny of Part 21.17(b) certification.

Future Outlook

With the initiation of the certification process, LIFT Aircraft enters a new phase of regulatory testing. The transition from “joyrides” to practical transportation will require meeting the FAA’s stringent safety standards for powered-lift aircraft. If successful, the HEXA-C will be legally cleared for commercial transport and flight within the national airspace system, moving beyond the geographic restrictions that currently limit the Ultralight fleet.

Sources

• LIFT Aircraft (via Vertical Mag)

This article is based on an official press release from Joby Aviation.

Joby Aviation has announced a significant infrastructure partnership with Metropolis Technologies to develop a network of 25 vertiports across the United States. The collaboration aims to repurpose existing parking infrastructure into “mobility hubs” to support the commercial launch of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

According to the company’s announcement, the partnership will leverage Metropolis’s extensive portfolio of parking facilities to create takeoff and landing sites in key metropolitan areas. By retrofitting existing structures rather than building new terminals from the ground up, Joby intends to accelerate the deployment of its air taxi service, which is currently targeting a commercial launch in 2026.

The initiative addresses one of the most critical challenges in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sector: the “last mile” connection. The integration of ground and air travel is designed to offer passengers a seamless transition from their vehicles to Joby’s aircraft, utilizing advanced artificial intelligence to streamline the process.

Transforming Parking Garages into Mobility Hubs

The core strategy of this partnership involves identifying and upgrading sites within Metropolis’s network, which expanded significantly following its recent acquisition of SP+. With access to over 4,200 parking facilities, the companies plan to select prime locations in high-density urban centers such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City.

Joby Aviation stated that this retrofit approach offers a distinct advantage over constructing standalone vertiports. By utilizing the top decks of existing parking garages, the partners can reduce upfront construction costs and navigate zoning requirements more efficiently. These sites will be designed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Engineering Brief 105A, which outlines the specific design standards for vertiport geometry, marking, and load-bearing capacity.

“For air taxis to deliver on their promise of seamless urban travel, they must connect directly with the existing ground transportation ecosystem. By leveraging existing parking infrastructure… we can maximize the value of those sites without needing to build infrastructure from scratch.”

, JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation

Integration of AI Technology

Beyond physical infrastructure, the partnership emphasizes the integration of Metropolis’s proprietary technology. The company utilizes AI-powered computer vision to manage facility access and payments. In the context of air travel, this technology aims to facilitate a “drive-in, fly-out” experience.

According to the release, cameras will recognize a passenger’s vehicle upon entry, automatically processing parking fees and initiating the check-in process for their flight. This system is intended to eliminate the need for physical tickets, gates, or kiosks, aligning with the industry’s push for a frictionless passenger experience.

“The real world is the next frontier for AI… We are taking the data and recognition capabilities we’ve built in our network and extending it to air travel, creating the seamless, personalized, and magical experience that is the foundation of the Recognition Economy.”

, Alex Israel, CEO of Metropolis Technologies

Immediate Rollout and Strategic Markets

While the construction of full vertiports is a longer-term project targeting 2026, the partnership includes immediate operational steps. Metropolis subsidiary Bags Inc. will begin providing VIP baggage handling services for Blade Urban Air Mobility, a partner of Joby Aviation, in New York City. This service will support flights between Manhattan and major airports such as JFK and Newark.

Los Angeles has been identified as a primary market for the initial vertiport rollout. The companies are currently evaluating downtown parking structures that can be adapted to support high-frequency air taxi operations. This focus on Los Angeles aligns with Joby’s broader strategy to establish a foothold in regions with high traffic congestion, where the time-saving value of eVTOL aircraft is most apparent.

AirPro News Analysis

We observe that this partnership represents a divergent strategy in the race for UAM infrastructure. While competitors like Archer Aviation have partnered with Atlantic Aviation to electrify existing private aviation terminals (FBOs), Joby is betting on bringing aircraft closer to the consumer’s daily commute via parking garages.

The “retrofit” model proposed by Joby and Metropolis may offer scalability advantages. Parking garages are ubiquitous in city centers, whereas private air terminals are typically located on the periphery at airports. If successful, this approach could allow Joby to penetrate dense urban cores more deeply than competitors relying solely on airport-based infrastructure.

However, we note that retrofitting parking decks presents its own engineering challenges, particularly regarding the structural reinforcement required to handle the weight and dynamic loads of landing aircraft, as well as the installation of high-voltage charging infrastructure in older buildings.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the first vertiports be operational?

Joby Aviation and Metropolis are targeting the development of these sites to align with Joby’s commercial launch, which is currently projected for 2026.

Where will these vertiports be located?

The initial focus is on key US markets including Los Angeles, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The partnership aims to develop 25 sites in total.

How does the check-in process work?

Metropolis will use computer vision technology to recognize vehicles upon arrival, handling parking and flight check-in automatically without the need for paper tickets or standing in line.

Sources

• Joby Aviation