Joby Aviation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business, including its U.S. and European operations, brand, and network of 12 urban terminals—for up to $125 million in cash or stock, including $35 M of performance-based holdbacks, according to Joby’s official announcement and reporting by TechCrunch. (jobyaviation.com) Blade’s medical division—which handles organ transport—is excluded from the deal. It will remain a standalone public company, rebranded as Strata Critical Medical, but will maintain a strategic partnership with Joby for future medical aviation support. The purchase grants Joby immediate scale: the Blade platform served over 50,000 passengers in 2024, supported by terminals at JFK, Newark, West/East Side Manhattan, and Wall Street. Leadership continuity is planned: Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal will remain head of the passenger business under Joby, and also chair Strata after reorganization. Joby sees the acquisition as a “massive accelerant” toward launching its electric air taxi service, particularly in Dubai and other key global markets. Integrating Blade’s infrastructure with its upcoming eVTOL aircraft, Joby can reduce customer acquisition costs, minimize the need for new vertiports, and leverage Blade’s loyal rider base. The deal is also aligned with Joby’s FAA certification timeline, positioning the company to begin commercial flights in 2026.