Joby Begins Florida Air Taxi Test Flights

Joby Aviation flew its piloted electric air taxi from St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport, retracing the route of the 1914 flight widely recognized as the first scheduled commercial airline service. The demonstration was conducted with the Florida Department of Transportation under the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program and also featured an electric aircraft from BETA Technologies. It began a week-long series of Florida test flights with planned stops at Orlando International Airport and Kennedy Space Center. Joby's aircraft takes off vertically and is designed for a pilot and four passengers, while BETA's uses a conventional runway. The flights are intended to inform safe operations and airport integration. Florida is exploring vertiport infrastructure and a statewide intercity air taxi network and plans to begin testing at a test campus by the end of 2026. CONTESTED: No factual dispute found. Commercial service depends on safety approvals, facilities, and practical access and costs. The FAA has not set a date for full commercial clearance.