Joby Aviation Locks In Major UK Deal with Virgin Atlantic
Joby Aviation's electric air taxi on public display at Potters Field Park in London, July 2026, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic. (Photo: Joby Aviation)
Joby Aviation just took a big step toward bringing electric air taxis to the United Kingdom. At the Farnborough International Airshow, Joby and Virgin Atlantic signed a definitive, multi-year agreement, turning a partnership they first announced in 2025 into a binding commercial deal.
What This Means
Virgin Atlantic is now Joby's exclusive airline partner for air taxi service in the UK. The airline will sell Joby flights right through its own app and website, so travelers can book an air taxi connection alongside their long haul flight in one place.
This builds on Joby's existing partnership with Delta Air Lines, which owns a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic. Together, the three companies are aiming to make regional travel across the UK faster and simpler.
Where It's Launching
Joby plans to start service at Virgin Atlantic's hubs in London and Manchester. Manchester will anchor connections across the North of England.
Early routes on the table include:
Manchester Airport to Leeds in about 15 minutes
Heathrow to Central London in as little as 8 minutes
Both trips currently take over an hour by car.
Who Does What
Joby will handle aircraft operations, route management, and UK Civil Aviation Authority approvals. Virgin Atlantic will focus on infrastructure and getting customers signed up at both hubs.
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