Flying taxis are quickly heading to northern England, say aviation bosses

Flying taxis are not just coming to global super cities like London, New York and Dubai – bosses plan to run them in Derby, Stoke and Hull.

Investors are willing to shell out billions on airborne cab schemes to whisk travellers around the world’s leading tourist destinations. But one of the sector’s leading firms is planning routes across often ignored areas of England.

JoeBen Bevirt, founder of Joby Aviation, said: “The UK is an incredible opportunity – not just in the south… but also being able to network underserved parts of the country.”

The electric-powered aircraft are designed to carry small groups of passengers on short distances – avoiding jammed roads and crowded railways.

Though known as “taxis” they will not operate as cabs by taking passengers to their destinations of choice. Instead they will ferry people between fixed points – such as between city centres – like trains or buses.

According to Mr Bevirt flying taxis could offer a means of transport between northern towns devoid of high-speed train lines.

Passengers will use an app to book a ride – similar to hiring an Uber.

Joby is on course to start flying its aircraft in Dubai from next year with the US and Britain to follow – subject to approval by regulators. The UK is seen as a key market.

Mr Bevirt believes his fares will compete with rail travel. The infrastructure needed to operate flying taxis is cheap and simple to install.

Because they take off vertically they do not need a runway – just a concrete pad known as a “vertiport” similar in size to a helipad. They are cheaper and less noisy than helicopters.

The crafts’ chargers are similar to those used by a Tesla or other electric vehicles.

Founded in 2009 in California, Joby has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2021 and is now valued at £2.7billion.

It has already started delivering some of its aircraft to the US Air Force under a multi-million dollar deal with the Pentagon. Rivals include Britain’s Vertical Aerospace, America’s Archer Aviation, China’s EHang and Germany’s Volocopter plus projects backed by aviation giants Airbus and Boeing.

Joby has developed an aircraft with room for a pilot and four passengers that can cruise at 200mph and has a 100-mile range.

It was successfully test flown among the skyscrapers of New York last autumn.

“We want this to be something that’s broadly affordable,” said Mr Bevirt.

Joby has mapped out a possible network across the north that includes Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Stoke, Derby, Nottingham, Hull and York. An air cab journey from Leeds to Manchester Airport will take 22 minutes compared with 66 minutes in a car and 92 minutes by train.

A walk-on single fare at rush hour for the same journey would cost £36.70. A standard Uber fare would be more than £100.