Joby Aviation (JOBY) shares climbed nearly 7% in Wednesday trading after the electric air taxi developer finalized a multiyear commercial agreement with Virgin Atlantic, formalizing a partnership first outlined in 2025.
The agreement makes Virgin Atlantic the exclusive airline partner for Joby's air taxi services in the United Kingdom. Customers will be able to reserve Joby flights through Virgin Atlantic's website and mobile application alongside traditional airline bookings.
Joby plans to introduce services from Virgin Atlantic's hubs in London and Manchester. Initial routes are expected to include connections between Manchester Airport and Leeds, as well as Heathrow Airport and central London, with flight times designed to be substantially shorter than current ground transportation.
Under the arrangement, Joby will manage aircraft operations, route planning and regulatory approvals through the UK Civil Aviation Authority, while Virgin Atlantic will support customer acquisition and infrastructure integration at its airport hubs. The partnership also expands Joby's relationship with Delta Air Lines (DAL), which owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. Joby said it expects to broaden its UK network over time as commercial operations expand and regulatory approvals progress.