The new service, beginning Monday, 1 December, will cater to residents of key New York City suburbs including Greenwich, Scarsdale, Rye and Bedford. Designed to significantly reduce travel times, the route will cut rush hour commutes from more than an hour and a half to just twelve minutes.

Daily weekday operations will include morning and evening flights, with seats priced between $125 per passenger (with a Blade Commuter Pass) and $225.

“With the return of five-day work weeks and traffic between the Greater New York City suburbs and Manhattan now exceeding pre-pandemic levels, it was time for Blade to service this demand,” said Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade.

The initiative forms part of Blade’s transition strategy towards a quiet, zero-emission fleet, following FAA certification of Joby’s electric air taxi. Insights from the pilot will inform operational logistics and passenger experience, supporting the broader commercialisation of Joby’s eVTOL aircraft.

Mr Wiesenthal added, “While Blade has proven the viability of airport routes in the U.S. and Europe, commuter routes will become even more important as new landing zones, exclusive to electric aircraft, become available.”

A preview flight will be offered on Friday, 28 November, in collaboration with The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, providing passengers with a unique holiday shopping experience in the heart of Manhattan.