24/07/2026
🔵 VIRGIN ATLANTIC PASSENGERS COULD SOON SWAP TRAFFIC FOR 8 MINUTE FLYING TAXI RIDES
Travelling into central London after a long transatlantic flight could soon take less than ten minutes thanks to a new partnership between Virgin Atlantic and electric air taxi firm Joby.
Announced at the Farnborough Air Show, the agreement will allow airline customers to book a flight on Joby's electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (eVTOL) directly through the Virgin Atlantic app or website.
The service aims to slash travel time from London Heathrow Airport to central London down to just 8 minutes - a journey that usually takes over an hour by car.
Despite the high-tech appeal, the service is being pitched as surprisingly affordable. Bonny Simi, Joby's president of operations, revealed that a seat on the aircraft would be "very equivalent" to current premium road transport, estimating the Heathrow to central London trip at between £100 and £120.
This puts it directly in line with traditional transport options, where an Uber Black costs around £100 and a standard London Black Cab can run up to £120 for the same distance.
The technology is also set to expand beyond the capital to Virgin's regional hub at Manchester Airport, with early planned routes including a 15-minute hop to Leeds.
Operating similarly to helicopters but producing significantly less noise, the six-propeller aircraft can fly routes up to 100 miles without disrupting city residents below.
Highlighting the benefits of the technology, Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster stated: "Together, we'll create more seamless journeys for our customers, making it easier than ever to travel between towns, cities, and our airports."
The UK's Civil Aviation Authority is currently aiming to have passenger-carrying eVTOLs commercially certified by the end of 2028.
