ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando International Airport made history this week when an electric air taxi took off and landed there.
Joby Aviation’s electric air taxi completed a takeoff and landing using a newly constructed vertipad.
The facility marks the first dedicated landing area for electric air taxis established at a commercial airport in the United States.
The flight at Orlando International Airport followed a test flight conducted last week across Tampa Bay, which retraced the route of the world’s first commercial airline flight from 1914.
Joby envisions offering air taxi flights from the airport to Orlando-area theme parks, reducing travel times to minutes compared to an hour of driving.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis commented on the potential impact of electric air taxi technology on regional highway congestion. “To be able to avoid traffic on the ground and get places a lot quicker and I think the technology is going to continue to advance,” DeSantis said.
The Florida Department of Transportation is analyzing flight testing to establish safety regulations, infrastructure standards and operating procedures for commercial air taxi operations.
Transportation officials designated the Interstate 4 corridor as an early priority for implementing the technology.
State leaders expect electric aircraft to reduce travel times, improve cargo delivery and support faster emergency response services.
Specific timelines for when air taxis will enter regular daily service and the projected cost of passenger rides remain undetermined.
Airport officials noted that the vertipad at Orlando International Airport serves as an initial phase toward constructing a larger facility designed for full commercial flight operations.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
