The idea is to radically reduce travel times from town centres to the airport.
California-based eVTOL startup Joby Aviation is gearing up to fly people from UK airports to nearby cities in England in little air taxis at 200 mph (322 km/h), in partnership with long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin has two major UK hubs, and the company says its six-rotor electric air taxi can seat five - including the pilot - and get you from Leeds to Manchester Airport in 15 minutes instead of the one hour it takes by road. It would also cut the 80 minute journey from London's Canary Wharf to Heathrow Airport to just 8 stress-free minutes.
The electric aircraft can cover up to 100 emissions-free miles (160 km) on a single charge, and takes off much more quietly than a helicopter. It's not yet clear when the services will start, but Joby "expects to offer prices that are comparable with existing premium ground ridesharing options at launch."
According to Forbes, Virgin Atlantic will help market the service to its customers, "build support" for the development of landing infrastructure at key airports, and engage with regulators - because, of course, none of this has regulatory approval as yet. Joby first applied for certification in the UK in 2022.