When will air taxis start flying passengers?

Soon, if the two front-runners hit their own targets. Joby and Archer both aim to begin operations in 2026. Here’s what each company has said, in its own words, and what a ride might cost. We checked every fact on October 12, 2026.

When will Joby fly its first passengers?

Joby says it’s targeting its first passengers in 2026. In February 2026, it said it expected to carry them later this year in Dubai, booked through the Uber app. Its FAA pilot-program flights in Texas began on September 10, 2026. Sources: Joby, August 5, 2026 (opens in new tab), Joby, February 25, 2026 (opens in new tab), FAA, September 10, 2026 (opens in new tab)

When will Archer start flying?

Archer plans to begin Midnight operations later this year under the FAA’s pilot program. In July 2026, Midnight flew a piloted round trip between Salinas and Monterey, about nine minutes each way. In the UAE, Midnight is planned to enter service in Abu Dhabi with Abu Dhabi Aviation, and the UAE regulator moved it into a certification track for limited early operations on May 7, 2026. Sources: Archer, August 10, 2026 (opens in new tab), Archer, May 7, 2026 (opens in new tab)

Can I ride one in the U.S. yet?

Not as everyday service. The FAA’s pilot program runs test flights and demonstrations, and the FAA says it “is not a mechanism to bypass certification requirements.” Joby says it’s in the fifth and final stage of FAA type certification. Sources: FAA eIPP fact sheet (opens in new tab), Joby, August 5, 2026 (opens in new tab) How FAA certification works.

What will a ride cost?

Nobody has published a fare yet. Both companies have set a target instead:

• Joby: its 2021 investor presentation describes “a vision to offer flights at the same price as a ground-based taxi.” Source: Joby investor presentation, 2021 (opens in new tab)
• Archer: in 2021, it said it would create “a service with a price equivalent to rideshare services on the market today.” Source: Archer, 2021 (opens in new tab)

Those are goals, not prices. Joby’s Uber booking includes an Uber Black car to and from the aircraft. Source: Joby, February 25, 2026 (opens in new tab)

Things you should know

• Launch dates are company targets. Both companies label plans like these forward-looking statements that can change.
• A test flight isn’t a ticket. Watch for an announcement of paid passenger service.

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