Joby Aviation to Acquire Blade Air Mobility’s Passenger Business for $125M

Joby Aviation is making a strategic MOVE into the urban air mobility sector with its acquisition of Blade Air Mobility's passenger business for up to $125 million. The deal excludes Blade's medical organ transplant division, which will rebrand as Strata Critical Medical and remain a separate public entity while collaborating with Joby on medical transport solutions.

The acquisition provides Joby immediate access to Blade's established customer base, infrastructure, and operational expertise—a decade's worth of experience in urban air transport. Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal will continue leading the passenger operations under Joby's ownership, leveraging existing terminals at key locations like JFK Airport and Manhattan.

Joby's CEO JoeBen Bevirt framed the deal as a launchpad for scaling electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) services, citing Blade's 50,000+ passenger flights in 2024 as proof of market demand. The company anticipates FAA certification of its eVTOL aircraft in early 2025, a critical milestone for commercial deployment.