A Joby Aviation air taxi flying next to the Manhattan skyline.
Credit: Joby Aviation
NEED TO KNOW
Joby Aviation’s electric air taxis are quiet, produce zero emissions and can fly up to 140 mph
Demonstration flights will connect JFK Airport to three Manhattan hubs, including Downtown and Midtown heliports
The company aims to match ride share prices, with FAA approval for air taxis potentially coming within a year
New Yorkers are about to experience a much faster commute from JFK Airport to Manhattan.
The trip, which can take more than an hour by car or public transit, now has a shortcut thanks to Joby Aviation.
Starting Monday, April 27, the company will be demonstrating the efficiency of its new technology with a week-long display of its air taxis traveling from the popular airport to three different hubs in Manhattan.
The electric air taxis boast technology that allows them to be extremely quiet in airspace and produce zero operating emissions, according to the company’s press release.
The vehicles will travel between JFK Airport and the Downtown Skyport as well as the West 30th Street and East 34th Street heliports in Midtown.
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The flight path for the Joby Aviation air taxis.
Credit: Joby Aviation
The air taxis hold up to four passengers and can fly up to 140 mph, Joby Aviation noted to NBC News.
“In terms of the price point, our target is to be competitive with ground transportation over time,” Joby Aviation CEO JoeBen Bevirt also told NBC News.
NBC News reported that the FAA could grant approval for the air taxis within the coming year. And Joby Aviation shared in its press release that the company is working toward that certification with test flights.
NBC correspondent Sam Brock noted on the 3rd Hour of Today that the average cost of a rideshare from the airport into Midtown cost between $150 and $200 per trip and said that the company aims to match that price. Brock added that initial costs might be higher but “once they’re able to scale the manufacture of the aircraft, it’ll come down a little lower than that.”
This would mark a step in what many believe is the future of one of New York’s most time-consuming commutes.
“We operate some of the busiest airports in the world, and with that comes a responsibility to think seriously about what aviation looks like in the decades ahead for our passengers, for our communities, and for the environment,” Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said in a press release. “These demonstration flights are one data point in a larger body of work we’re building around next-generation electric aviation, and it reflects our conviction that responsible exploration of these technologies now is how we prepare this region for the future.”
PEOPLE previously reported back in February that Uber had partnered with Joby for a more seamless commute experience. The partnership will allow customers to reserve an air taxi through the Uber app and get an Uber ride to the helipad launch.
Read the original article on People