Delta Aims to Transport You to the Airport in Cutting-Edge Electric Air Taxis

Your journey to the airport could soon be quicker and more eco-friendly—if you choose to travel via a small, fully electric aircraft.

Delta has just revealed a new partnership with Joby, a company specializing in all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, to provide short commuter flights to the airport. Joby will transport Delta travelers between major city hubs and the airport in its electric air taxis, which resemble a hybrid of a helicopter and a propeller plane.

“This presents a revolutionary opportunity for Delta to offer a time-efficient, distinctly premium home-to-airport experience for customers in key markets where we've been investing and innovating for years,” said Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian.

The program will initially focus on New York City and Los Angeles and is expected to launch sometime in 2024. Delta has not disclosed the fare for passengers yet, but once it is ready, customers will be able to include the electric air shuttle in their itinerary when booking on Delta’s website. The exact pickup locations for the air taxis have not been specified either.

Although specifics remain somewhat unclear, this initiative is yet another instance of airlines ramping up their efforts to provide more sustainable air travel options—so far, Delta has invested $60 million in Joby out of a possible $200 million. In May 2022, Hawaiian Airlines revealed a partnership with Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport, a Boston-based firm developing electric-powered seagliders, with hopes to incorporate the low-flying seagliders into its interisland fleet as early as 2028. United also announced in July 2021 its plans to purchase 100 zero-emission, 19-seater electric planes from Swedish startup Heart Aerospace for use on short domestic flights by 2026.

The airline industry is making significant investments in technologies and innovations that reduce carbon emissions, including electric vehicles, as it strives to meet its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Currently, air travel contributes approximately 3 percent of global carbon emissions.