Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic sign a definitive agreement to develop electric air taxi services in the UK
Joby Aviation, a US company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis for commercial passenger service, and Virgin Atlantic, a UK premium long-haul airline, have signed a definitive agreement formalising a commercial partnership, according to reporting from the Drones World August 2026 publication. The agreement was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow. Joby's aircraft are designed to carry passengers electrically, with no direct emissions, making them relevant to both urban mobility and airport connection services. A partnership with a UK airline of Virgin Atlantic's profile gives Joby a credible pathway into UK and European aviation markets, and provides Virgin Atlantic with an early stake in the emerging advanced air mobility sector. The partnership sits at the intersection of aviation regulation, infrastructure licensing and technology commercialisation. eVTOL operators in the UK require certification from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before commercial passenger services can begin, and the legal and regulatory groundwork for approving these aircraft types is still being developed. The UK government has flagged advanced air mobility as a priority sector under its broader aviation and technology policy agenda.
Why this matters
The Joby and Virgin Atlantic partnership signals that commercial eVTOL services in the UK are moving from concept to structured commercial agreement, which marks a meaningful step toward the first operational deployments. For City lawyers, the partnership creates a template transaction: a US technology developer accessing a European market through a joint commercial agreement with an established carrier, generating regulatory, technology licensing, and commercial contract work simultaneously. The CAA certification pathway and route to commercial operation remain the critical bottlenecks, and resolving them will require sustained regulatory engagement. The deal also reflects the broader trend of legacy carriers seeking to position themselves in the next generation of air mobility before the market matures.
On the Ground
The legal work generated by this partnership spans aviation regulatory compliance (CAA certification processes and route approval), technology licensing and IP protection for Joby's aircraft design, commercial joint venture structuring, and infrastructure agreements for vertiport (eVTOL landing facility) access at UK airports. A trainee on an energy and technology transaction of this type would be reviewing and summarising regulatory licence conditions from the CAA, coordinating technology transfer agreement review, and assisting with due diligence on Joby's IP portfolio and existing certification filings. No specific legal advisers are named in the source.
Interview prep
Question you might get
“What regulatory approvals would be needed before Joby Aviation can operate commercial eVTOL passenger services in the UK, and how would you advise Virgin Atlantic on the risks of this partnership?”
Sign up free to see the full answer
A model answer you can lift into an interview — how to frame this story for a partner.
Sign up freeSources
My notes
saved