Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Joby Aviation has agreed to acquire the passenger flight operations of Blade Air Mobility and will use the business as a key part of its plans to launch eVTOL air-taxi services. The companies announced the $125 million transaction today, saying that Joby will be a partner for Blade’s medical transportation unit, which is to continue operating as a separate public company.
Though not publicly acknowledged in the announcement, the takeover of Blade’s passenger operations seems to ensure that Blade will exclusively use the four-passenger aircraft that Joby is aiming to bring to market in early 2026. Loss-making Blade Air Mobility has previously announced partnerships and provisional orders with at least two other eVTOL aircraft developers—Eve Air Mobility and Beta Technologies.
According to Joby, Blade will be directly involved in its efforts to launch commercial passenger services in Dubai next year. The acquisition is set to unlock “immediate market access and infrastructure across key urban corridors in New York City and Southern Europe,” Joby said.
Last year, Blade flew more than 50,000 passengers in helicopters. Trips included flights using dedicated bases at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty Airport, as well as using heliports in Manhattan. The company has also operated services to sites along <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-02-14/blade-air-mobility-adds-security-clearance-nice">France’s Côte d’Azur</a> region.
In May, Blade announced that it had reduced its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-05-12/blade-air-mobility-losses-ease-pax-revenues-leap">net losses</a> by $700,000, to $3.5 million. Its revenues during the first quarter reportedly grew by 5.4% to $54.3 million. Blade will announce second-quarter results tomorrow.
Blade’s founder and CEO, Rob Wiesenthal, will continue to lead the passenger operations unit as a wholly owned subsidiary of Joby. The acquisition amount will be settled in a mix of stock or cash, at Joby’s preference, with $35 million held back subject to the achievement of various performance milestones and the retention of certain key employees.
“This is a strategically important acquisition that will support the successful launch of Joby’s commercial operations in Dubai, our subsequent global rollout, and our continued leadership in the sector,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby’s founder and CEO. “Over the last decade, Rob and the team at Blade have built a world-class passenger experience that demonstrates the value of vertical lift.”
<h2>VTOLs for Organ Transplant Flights</h2>
Operations in which Blade transports human organs for transplant procedures will continue through a newly-named company called Strata Critical Medical. Joby said it will now be the preferred VTOL aircraft provider for this company.
According to Joby, its main interest in taking over Blade is to get access to its existing infrastructure and also to convince “a large loyal base of passengers” to switch from helicopters to its new four-passenger eVTOL vehicle. Blade will start using the ElevateOS software tools to support flight bookings and operations, which are based on a platform originally developed by Uber for its planned Uber Elevate service.
“Blade was founded with the mission of democratizing short-distance air travel by facilitating the transition from conventional rotorcraft to quiet, emissions-free electric aircraft, and I believe there is no better partner than Joby to make that mission a reality,” Wiesenthal commented. “It is crystal clear from their progress on certification to the successful demonstration flights in New York and Dubai that this is the best possible home for our fliers, our team, and our partners.”
Beta Technologies and Eve Air Mobility did not respond to AIN’s request for an official comment on the changes at Blade. As recently as June, Blade appeared to be working closely with Beta, and Wiesenthal was one of two passengers aboard its Alia CX300 electric aircraft for a ground-breaking flight into John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Joby’s eVTOL aircraft is expected to have a range of around 86 nm, which is slightly more than the 52 nm anticipated for Eve's vehicle. However, Beta says its Alia A250 aircraft will be able to operate significantly longer sectors with a range of 288 nm, and its CX300 conventional takeoff and landing model will be able to fly up to 336 nm.

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In this article

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