Joby Aviation announced on March 13 that it has completed a series of demonstration flights across the San Francisco Bay Area. The company states that the flights showcase the air taxi’s operational readiness in high-traffic areas.
The air taxi was flown by Andrea Pingitore and departed from the Oakland International Airport (OAK). It flew across the Bay toward the Golden Gate Bridge and turned above the Marin Headlands. The flight is the kickoff to Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies Tour, a showcase to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. Joby plans to fly and present its aircraft in cities across the country to demonstrate the eVTOL as a faster, quieter transportation method.
“The Bay Area is home to the world’s most innovative companies, including Joby, but it’s also an area with significant traffic and unique geographical barriers,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby founder and CEO. “Our technology provides an opportunity to build on the immense potential of this region while protecting it for the next generation. By providing clean, quiet service with minimal infrastructure investment, we are making flight an everyday reality for the community.”
Joby states the San Francisco Bay Area is a natural early market for air taxis. It claims that drivers in the area lost an average of 112 hours in traffic in 2025, making it the third most congested city in the U.S. The air taxis are meant to turn the long commutes into quick trips that take only minutes.
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The company completed the first flight of its first FAA-conforming eVTOL air taxi on March 12, beginning flight testing for Type Inspection Authorization and making another step towards certification. It was also selected for multiple of the White House’s eIPP projects on March 10 and can begin early operations across 10 states. The states include:
Arizona
Florida
Idaho
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Oregon
Texas
Utah
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