Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic Finalize UK eVTOL Agreement

Joby Aviation, Inc. and Virgin Atlantic have finalized a multi-year commercial agreement to launch electric air taxi services in the United Kingdom, establishing Virgin Atlantic as the exclusive airline partner for the manufacturer’s UK operations.

The binding agreement, signed at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 22, 2026, formalizes a partnership initially announced in 2025. According to a Joby Aviation press release, the deal will integrate ground-to-airport air taxi flights into Virgin Atlantic’s booking channels, allowing passengers to schedule connections to long-haul flights using Joby’s all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Planned UK operations and hubs

The companies plan to establish initial operational hubs at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Manchester Airport (MAN). Joby expects its aircraft, which features six tilting propellers and a maximum route deployment range of 100 miles, to significantly reduce ground transfer times.

Early route planning estimates a flight time of eight minutes from London Heathrow to Central London. In northern England, flights from Manchester Airport to Leeds are projected to take 15 minutes.

“This agreement marks an exciting next chapter in our partnership with Joby and a significant step towards bringing electric air taxi services to the UK. Together, we’ll create more seamless journeys for our customers, making it easier than ever to travel between towns, cities and our airports,” Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster said in the company statement.

Certification progress and Delta partnership

The UK agreement expands upon Joby’s existing mutually exclusive partnership with Delta Air Lines, which was established in 2022 to pioneer community-to-airport transportation in the United States. Delta Air Lines currently holds a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic.

Joby is currently navigating the regulatory approval process to bring its aircraft to market. According to reporting by Aerospace Global News, Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt confirmed at the Farnborough Airshow that the company is now in the fifth and final stage of aircraft certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The manufacturer submitted its validation application for UK certification in 2022 under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the FAA and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Bevirt told Aerospace Global News that the company’s goal is to conduct its first UK flight from London to Farnborough in 2028.

AirPro News analysis

We view this finalized agreement as a logical consolidation of Joby Aviation’s transatlantic strategy. By leveraging the existing equity and joint venture relationship between Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, Joby secures a captive premium passenger base in two of the world’s most congested urban airspaces. The 2028 target for initial UK flights aligns with the typical timeline for completing FAA certification and securing subsequent CAA validation. However, regulatory timelines at both agencies remain the primary pacing factor for the entire eVTOL sector, and infrastructure development at major hubs like London Heathrow will require significant coordination with local authorities.

Sources: Joby Aviation