Joby Takes Flight: Blade Deal Fuels Hopes of a Tesla-Like Future in the Sky
Air Mobility Buzzes as Joby Aviation Moves Closer to FAA Certification and Market Domination
Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) is igniting serious excitement in the Advanced Air Mobility sector after announcing it will acquire Blade Air Mobility’s (NASDAQ: BLDE) U.S. passenger aviation business, a bold move that many believe could accelerate the commercialization of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi service.
The deal, which sends clear signals that Joby is ramping up for real-world deployment, comes as investors and analysts draw comparisons to early-stage Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) — a disruptive technology company facing skepticism, regulation, and funding concerns before achieving mass market success. Now, Joby’s loyal investor base is betting on a similar trajectory.
The Blade acquisition provides Joby with critical infrastructure, pilot networks, airport access, and an established customer base, allowing it to plug into existing routes and begin revenue-generating operations faster than expected. This comes as Joby continues to push toward full FAA certification, which would greenlight its commercial launch across U.S. cities.
While some traders are watching Joby's valuation cautiously, citing the potential for dilution from future capital raises, others remain decidedly bullish, calling this a major inflection point. The company’s strategic partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense, Toyota, and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), along with its certified aircraft testing program, are seen as strong tailwinds for future growth.
This Blade deal may also pressure competitors like Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) and EHang (NASDAQ: EH) to accelerate their timelines, as Joby now holds a tangible route to commercialization—literally and figuratively.
The acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the air mobility revolution, placing Joby not just as a dreamer of the skies, but a contender to dominate them. And as markets begin to price in the impact, some retail traders are doubling down, calling Joby the “Tesla of the Skies”—a bet on the future of transport that’s just beginning to lift off.
