Will electric air taxis soon be flying from London to Cambridge?
Cambridge could be in line to get electric air taxis that can whizz passengers to and from London at speeds of up to 200mph.
US firm Joby Aviation has signed a partnership with Virgin Atlantic to launch a zero-emission alternative for short-range travel in the UK.
Air taxis services are envisaged from key hubs, with initial flights expected from Heathrow and Manchester Airport. However, regulatory approval is required first from the Civil Aviation Authority.
If granted, a trip from Heathrow to Canary Wharf could take eight minutes, while Manchester to Leeds could take 15.
Expansion to other UK cities could follow, with Joby’s ‘‘London hub’ network map showing connections from London and its airports to Cambridge, Norwich, Oxford, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Brighton, Canterbury and Reading.
It raises the prospect of a new Varsity air line, taking passengers between Cambridge and Oxford, or the potential to fly to Birmingham or Norwich in a fraction of the time it would take by train or car.
A spokesperson for Joby Aviation told the Cambridge Independent said: "Our network map highlights key hotspots across the UK where our routes could be a game changer. By generating a fully connected network, we will enable seamless travel between any points within 100 miles, opening up new opportunities for regional connectivity. We're excited to explore the possibilities across the East of England and beyond."
Joby’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft feature six tilting propellers and produce much less noise than traditional helicopters.
They are designed for rapid, back-to-back flights and could initially serve routes of up to 100 miles.
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.”
Joby says it expects to offer prices that are “comparable with existing premium ground ridesharing options at launch”.
The partnership follows an existing agreement between Joby and Delta Air Lines – which owns a 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic – to launch services in the US and UK.
Without regulatory approvals, no launch date has been put forward.
But if and when it does go live, the service would be integrated into Virgin Atlantic’s booking platforms so that customers could reserve seats via the airline’s website and app.
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said: “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. Together, we are committed to delivering faster options for mobility across the country, including for Virgin Atlantic and Delta customers as they head to the airport or move between UK towns and cities.”
Virgin is also expected to promote the service, engage with regulators and supporting the development of more landing infrastructure.
If a Cambridge route is launched, Cambridge Airport might seem the obvious location to land. But Marshall, which runs the airport, is due to leave the site for Cranfield in Bedfordshire by 2030 and the airport is expected to be developed for housing.
The Joby Aviation spokesperson told the Cambridge Independent: "With flights covering distances in as little as 8 minutes, such as London to Heathrow, and Leeds to Manchester in 22 minutes, our network transforms regional connectivity. A route to Cambridge (from London, for example) would be far quicker than other transport options, but the real impact comes from linking places that currently lack convenient connections - opening up new travel possibilities across the UK."
Joby first showcased its aircraft in the UK at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow.
It has completed thousands of test flights, including exhibition flights in New York City, Japan and South Korea. In the US, it hopes flights will begin later this year or in early 2026.
