air taxi

Most trips in a Joby air taxi will require multiple legs, Allison said.

Joby applied in September to become a certified electric air taxi operator in the United Arab Emirates.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently cleared the Santa Clara, Calif.-based electric air taxi company to test its aircraft commercially ahead of an official public launch, which will possibly occur first in Chicago and Newark, N.J., where Archer has confirmed two routes with United Airlines.

Experts have also pointed to affordability as a potential hurdle because air taxi services may benefit some residents over others.

Archer’s Southern California network would also include Santa Monica, Long Beach, Van Nuys and Orange County, where Santa Cruz-based air taxi company Joby Aviation, which was previously cleared by the FAA to test operations, has been discussing plans with authorities and partners to operate from John Wayne Airport.