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Joby flew its S4 air taxi over New York City in late 2023.
A new joint venture backed by Skyports Infrastructure and Groupe ADP has been selected to operate the Downtown Manhattan Heliport for five years from January, paving the way for the companies to begin readying the facility for the launch of air taxi services from U.S. startups Archer and Joby.
Following a competitive procurement process, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) selected joint venture Downtown Skyport—created by UK vertiport startup Skyports Infrastructure and French airport operator Groupe ADP—to operate the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) for an initial five-year term beginning January 2025. The permit will be renewable at five-year intervals, with a maximum allowable term of 20 years.
The award has extra significance because DMH is planned to be one of the first heliports in the U.S. that will be modified to handle electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) air taxis, which are expected to operate out of existing aviation assets like heliports and FBOs in their early stages of adoption.
Archer and Joby have both indicated their intention to operate from DMH. Archer will fly routes between the facility and Newark Liberty International in partnership with United Airlines, while Joby is planning to operate between DMH and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Downtown Skyport said it has committed to completing the build-out of electric charging infrastructure and associated utility upgrades within a year of the initial type certifications for eVTOL aircraft by the FAA.
Archer and Joby have both indicated plans to certify their air taxis in time to launch U.S. services before the end of 2026, although those timelines have been pushed back repeatedly and may be delayed again.
A public hearing to confirm Downtown Skyport as the operator of DMH will be hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services on Dec. 9. The JV will take over from current operator Saker Aviation.
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