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Journey times between Kent and London could be drastically cut by ‘flying taxis’ set to be trialled in the UK.
Virgin Atlantic and Joby Aviation have announced they are teaming up to transform short-range air travel for trips of less than 100 miles.
Helicopter-style aircraft capable of hitting speeds of up to 200mph will ferry passengers between major cities and airports, with the first flights taking place from hubs at London Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
And a map of the proposed London network shows Canterbury could be home to one of a series of air taxi hubs, connecting the Cathedral city to the capital in less than 20 minutes.
Journeys could also take place between Canterbury and Norwich, Cambridge, Portsmouth and Brighton.
The electric, zero-emission air taxis are designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers.
They feature six tilting propellers - allowing vertical take-off and landing while producing far less noise than traditional helicopters – are are designed for rapid, back-to-back flights.
Although a launch date has yet to be announced, when the service goes live it will be integrated into Virgin Atlantic’s booking platforms, allowing customers to reserve seats via the airline’s website and app.
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “As a leader in sustainability and with innovation firmly in our DNA, we are delighted to be partnering with Joby to bring short-haul, zero-emission flight to airports and cities throughout the UK.”
JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of Joby Aviation, added: “Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to delighting its customers reflects our experience with Delta and we couldn’t imagine a better partner to work with in the UK.”
Virgin will also play a key role in promoting the service, engaging with regulators, and supporting the development of vital landing infrastructure.
Joby anticipates pricing to be competitive with premium traditional taxi services.
In 2022, Joby and Delta Air Lines announced a multi-city partnership to develop community-to-airport transport solutions.
While their agreement is exclusive in the US and UK for at least five years post-launch, the partnership has now been expanded to include Virgin Atlantic in the UK.
Joby showcased its aircraft in the UK for the first time at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow and has formally applied for certification from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The firm has completed thousands of test flights, including exhibition flights in New York City, Japan and Korea.
Joby has been asked for further details.
