Delta Air Taxis Timeline: CEO Reveals When Flying Taxis Will Take Off

Delta Air Taxis Timeline Announced at CES 2025

The Delta Air Taxis Timeline is becoming clearer after CEO Ed Bastian shared his vision at CES 2025. As Delta celebrated its 100th anniversary, Bastian emphasized the airline’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and advanced mobility solutions. Speaking with FOX Business, he revealed: “You will begin to see them in the skies in the upcoming years.”

This announcement marks a significant milestone in Delta’s vision for the next century. The airline aims to leverage artificial intelligence, ride-sharing partnerships, and aerospace technology to redefine passenger experiences. Central to this vision is the collaboration with Joby Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

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Delta and Joby Aviation Partnership for Air Taxis

Delta Air Lines has partnered with Joby Aviation to introduce a home-to-airport air taxi service. These all-electric eVTOLs are designed to reduce congestion, cut travel times, and offer a more seamless passenger journey.

Bastian praised Joby’s technological progress, stating: “Our collaboration with Joby has truly impressed me. I believe they are the frontrunners in this industry.”

FAA Certification Progress for Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation is currently undergoing a multi-year FAA testing program. According to the company, it has completed three out of five critical certification phases. In December 2024, a major milestone was achieved when Joby successfully tested its aerostructure with FAA officials on-site.

The FAA has expressed strong support for advancing air taxi services, recognizing their potential to ease ground congestion. Bastian highlighted this, noting that regulators understand the biggest challenge lies in ground transportation delays.

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How the Delta Air Taxis Timeline Impacts Travelers

Delta’s air taxi vision is not just about futuristic aircraft—it’s about solving real-world travel problems. One of the main goals is to reduce time lost in road traffic around congested airports.

Example – Westchester to JFK in Just 15 Minutes

Bastian provided a real-world scenario: “You could take a Joby from Westchester County to JFK. On the road, that’s nearly two hours. With an air taxi, it’s just 15 minutes—and you land right inside a Delta SkyMiles club, ready for your next flight.”

This convenience factor is central to Delta’s value proposition. By cutting hours of road travel into minutes, air taxis could revolutionize the home-to-airport experience for frequent travelers.

Industry Outlook for Delta Air Taxis Timeline

While the Delta Air Taxis Timeline suggests first flights within the next two to three years, widespread adoption may take longer. Experts estimate that it could be 3–7 years before air taxis scale across multiple U.S. cities.

Future of Urban Air Mobility

Urban air mobility (UAM) is rapidly gaining traction worldwide. Cities like New York and Los Angeles are likely to be the first to see commercial air taxi services. Over time, expansion to other hubs could drastically reduce congestion and improve connectivity.

Delta’s entry into this space, backed by Joby Aviation’s progress, places the airline at the forefront of this new era of aviation. If successful, Delta could set a global benchmark for how airlines integrate air taxis into mainstream travel.

Conclusion

The Delta Air Taxis Timeline signals a major step forward in the future of travel. By partnering with Joby Aviation and working closely with the FAA, Delta Air Lines is preparing to offer faster, greener, and more convenient mobility solutions.

If successful, Delta air taxis could transform the way passengers travel to and from airports—turning hours of ground travel into minutes of flight. As Ed Bastian put it, “This is all about the value.”

Joby Aviation Partnership

FAA Certification