Photo courtesy of Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Atlantic Partners With Joby Aviation To Launch Air Taxi Service In The UK
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The British company Virgin Atlantic announced this Monday a new partnership with the American startup Joby Aviation (Joby), which specializes in electric air taxis, to provide commercial services in the United Kingdom.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Virgin Atlantic partners with Joby Aviation to launch zero-emission air taxi services, connecting UK airports and cities with short-range electric flights.
- Passengers will soon be able to book fast, eco-friendly air taxi rides through Virgin Atlantic’s app and website.
- Joby Aviation is expanding its air taxi services globally, including plans for operations in Dubai.
According to the press release , the flying taxi service will offer passengers short-range journeys, with flights lasting around 8 to 15 minutes, connecting regional cities and airports. The planned routes will take customers between Virgin Atlantic hubs at Manchester Airport and Heathrow Airport to nearby locations. The dates for the service have not been disclosed yet.
The new partnership expands an existing agreement between Delta Airlines—which owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic—and Joby to provide services in the United States as well.
Joby has gained popularity for its zero-emission vehicles, similar to modern helicopters, with six tilting propellers, and capacity for up to four passengers—and the pilot. The air taxis can reach up to 200 mph—around 321 Km/h. Users will be able to book a seat on one of the routes through Virgin Atlantic’s app, website, and other alternatives.
“As a leader in sustainability and with innovation firmly in our DNA, we are delighted to be partnering with Joby to bring short-haul, zero-emission flights to airports and cities throughout the UK,” said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic.
London, Manchester, UK — let’s fly! Introducing our partnership with @VirginAtlantic . pic.twitter.com/S2OT4SUyFX — Joby Aviation (@jobyaviation) March 17, 2025
As specified in the document, the flying taxis generate “a fraction of the noise produced by today’s helicopters” and have been designed to cover routes of up to 100 miles—160 kilometers.
Joby and Virgin Atlantic expect to build a network connecting convenient locations throughout the UK at prices compared to premium ground transportation services. They did not announce the estimated dates for the service, but Virgin Atlantic will rely on Joby for marketing efforts and regulatory agreements to provide the service soon.
Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines are not the only major businesses interested in Joby’s aircraft. According to The Verge , Toyota invested $500 million in the startup last year, in October, and Joby expects to begin offering its air taxi services in Dubai later this year.
Caption: Photo by Levart_Photographer on Unsplash
Elon Musk and OpenAI Agree to Accelerated Trial Over For-Profit Transition
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
A federal court filing revealed Elon Musk and OpenAI have agreed on an expedited trial over the startup’s for-profit transition. The first court session will take place in December 8th.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Elon Musk and OpenAI have agreed to an expedited trial in December over the startup’s transition to a for-profit model.
- Musk previously sued OpenAI’s leadership for breaching its original nonprofit mission and attempted to acquire its assets in a $96.7 billion bid.
- With a $157 billion valuation and potential new investments, OpenAI faces increasing scrutiny.
According to Reuters, the document, filed on Friday at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, states that OpenAI and the billionaire will have a trial in December. It is yet to be determined whether a jury or just the judge will make a final decision.
Elon Musk and OpenAI have proposed an expedited trial in December 2025 over issues in OpenAI’s conversion from a nonprofit to a for-profit. Excited to see Elon and Sam testify… pic.twitter.com/RULUcMLJxf — Anna Tong (@annatonger) March 15, 2025
Since 2024 Musk has been trying to block OpenAI’s for-profit shift and has used multiple legal strategies to hinder the development of the company he co-founded in 2015—but left in 2018.
In February 2024 he filed a lawsuit against cofounders Greg Brockman and Sam Altman for breaching the startup’s original non-profit mission but dropped it in June before the hearing.
Later, in November 2024, he filed an injunction against OpenAI and Microsoft for anti-competitive practices, adding new accusations. A federal judge denied Musk’s request on March 4 but suggested an expedited trial now officially accepted by both parties.
“Our Board has been very clear that we intend to strengthen the non-profit so that it can deliver on its mission for the long term,” shared OpenAI in a public statement on its website on Friday. “We’re not selling it, we’re doubling down on its work.
Musk, and a group of investors, also tried to acquire OpenAI’s non profit assets by placing a bid for $96.7 billion in February, increasing tensions among stakeholders. Altman rejected the offer publicly, on Musk’s social media platform X.
OpenAI raised $6.6 billion in its latest funding round in October 2024, reaching a $157 billion valuation. It is currently under discussion for a new $40 billion investment led by SoftBank Group where a condition to remove the non-profit control has been placed.
