Joby Teams With Travis Kalanick and Atoms to Build U.S. Vertiport Network

Joby Aviation has signed a deal with real estate startup Atoms and former Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick to build a network of vertiports across the United States, laying the physical groundwork for its planned electric air taxi service.

The partnership, announced this week, brings together the California-based aircraft maker, a property development firm focused on transportation infrastructure, and one of the most recognizable figures in the ride-hailing industry. Kalanick, who led Uber until 2017, has stayed involved in urban mobility ventures since his departure and now backs Atoms as it enters the vertiport business.

Vertiports are the takeoff and landing pads that electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, need to operate. Without them, air taxis have nowhere to pick up or drop off passengers. Building this ground infrastructure has become one of the biggest hurdles facing companies trying to launch commercial air taxi service in cities.

What the deal covers

Under the agreement, Atoms will identify, acquire, and develop sites across major U.S. metropolitan areas. Joby will provide input on design and operational requirements to make sure the locations work for its aircraft. The companies have not disclosed the total number of sites planned or the financial terms of the arrangement.

Joby said the network will support its commercial passenger service, which the company aims to launch in the coming years. The manufacturer is currently working through the final stages of certification with the Federal Aviation Administration. This process has taken years and remains one of the last major steps before paying customers can board.

The company has previously said it plans to begin commercial operations in Dubai, where it holds an exclusive six-year agreement with the local Roads and Transport Authority. U.S. service is expected to follow, with New York and Los Angeles among the cities Joby has highlighted as early markets.

Kalanick's return to air mobility

Kalanick's involvement carries some history. During his time as Uber CEO, the company launched Uber Elevate, an ambitious project aimed at building an air taxi service. Uber sold Elevate to Joby in 2020 as part of a broader retreat from moonshot projects, and Joby has continued to develop the technology since.

His return through Atoms marks another chapter in his post-Uber activities, which have included investments in ghost kitchens and other urban logistics ventures. Atoms itself is a relatively new player, positioning itself as a specialist in transportation-focused real estate.

For Joby, having an experienced operator involved on the infrastructure side could help move projects forward faster. Securing land in dense urban areas, working through local permitting, and coordinating with airports and city officials are all time-consuming tasks that require deep real estate expertise.

The infrastructure challenge

Building vertiports is more complicated than putting up a helipad. The sites need charging equipment for electric aircraft, passenger facilities, air traffic coordination systems, and connections to ground transportation. They also need to meet noise, safety, and zoning requirements that vary by city.

“Designing and deploying a new asset class to support them is critical,” Kalanick said.  “As new transport modes and smart city services become available, designing and deploying a new asset class to support them is critical.”

The FAA released engineering guidance for vertiport design in 2022, giving developers a framework to work from, but many regulatory questions remain open. Local governments are still figuring out how to permit and integrate these facilities into existing transportation networks.

Several other companies are also working on vertiport development. Skyports, Ferrovial, and Urban-Air Port have all announced projects in different parts of the world. Joby itself has already been involved in vertiport planning at airports including Los Angeles International and John F. Kennedy International in New York.

“Thoughtful urban planning can take a decade or more, and making electric flight part of everyday life will require a new generation of transportation hubs connecting aircraft, ground transportation, and communities,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby.

Where Joby stands

Joby is one of the leading companies in the eVTOL race, along with rivals such as Archer Aviation, Lilium, and Vertical Aerospace. The company went public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company in 2021 and has since attracted investment from major backers including Toyota and Delta Air Lines.

The company's aircraft is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, with a range of around 100 miles on a single charge. Joby has pitched the service as a way to cut travel times in congested urban corridors, with trips priced to compete with premium ground transportation options.

Delta has partnered with Joby on a home-to-airport service planned for New York and Los Angeles, which would give the airline's customers a way to skip road traffic on the way to flights. That service depends on having vertiports in the right locations, which is where the Atoms deal comes in.

What comes next

Joby has not given a firm timeline for when the first U.S. vertiports developed under the new partnership will open. The company's commercial launch in the U.S. is contingent on completing FAA certification, a process that has slipped multiple times as the agency and manufacturers work through the details of certifying an entirely new category of aircraft.

Still, the announcement signals that Joby and its partners are moving forward on the assumption that certification will come and that the industry needs to prepare the ground infrastructure now. Building vertiports takes time, and starting the process before aircraft are ready to fly commercially is one way to avoid delays later.

For now, the partnership adds another layer to what has become a race not just to build the aircraft but to build the entire system needed to make air taxis a real transportation option in American cities.