Joby Kicks Off NYC Electric Air Taxi Demos With Historic JFK Flight

More trials will come to New York and 25 other states in the coming months.

Jack Daleo

Monday, April 27, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Joby Aviation’s production prototype electric air taxi, N545JX, sits on the tarmac at Modern Aviation JFK ahead of a historic demonstration flight on Monday. [Credit: Jack Daleo]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation conducted the first electric air taxi flights from New York's JFK Airport to Manhattan heliports, marking a significant step toward future urban air mobility services.
These demonstrations are part of a broader effort by Joby, other eVTOL manufacturers, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to develop and electrify infrastructure for air taxi operations.
The flights are a key component of the FAA's national eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which aims to test and integrate electric aircraft for diverse applications across 26 U.S. states, including airport transfers and cargo.

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New Yorkers this week are getting a glimpse of the future of aviation, as electric air taxis soar across the city’s network of airports and heliports for the first time.

After conducting a handful of test flights over the weekend, a Joby Aviation production prototype eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft lifted off Monday from John F. Kennedy International (KJFK), marking the first time an electric air taxi has departed one of New York City’s three major airports.