Blade Participates in First Electric Passenger Flight in the U.S.
- First-ever electric passenger flight in the U.S. demonstrates Blade's leadership in sustainable aviation
- BETA's ALIA CTOL aircraft has received FAA market survey certificate, marking regulatory progress
- Blade's asset-light model and terminal infrastructure positions it well for electric aviation transition
- Successful flight between major airports proves commercial viability of electric aircraft
- None.
Insights
Blade's participation in first U.S. electric passenger flight demonstrates commercial viability of emission-free aviation, positioning them strategically in the sustainable air mobility market.
Blade Air Mobility's involvement in the first U.S. electric passenger flight represents a significant technological milestone for the air mobility sector. The successful flight of BETA Technologies' ALIA CTOL aircraft from East Hampton to JFK airport demonstrates that electric aviation is transitioning from theoretical concept to commercial reality.
The flight carries substantial technological implications. BETA's aircraft has already secured an FAA market survey certificate—a critical regulatory stepping stone before full certification. This suggests the technology has matured beyond early experimental phases, with thousands of miles already logged in diverse conditions.
What makes this particularly valuable for Blade is how it aligns with their asset-light business model. Unlike competitors investing heavily in developing their own aircraft, Blade focuses on terminal infrastructure and service operations, allowing them to adopt new aircraft technologies without bearing development costs. This approach positions them to potentially commercialize electric aviation faster than vertically integrated competitors.
The East Hampton to JFK route is strategically significant. This high-traffic corridor between affluent communities and a major transportation hub represents exactly the type of route where electric aviation could first prove economically viable—short enough for current battery limitations while serving premium customers willing to pay for convenience and sustainability.
The noise reduction aspect shouldn't be underestimated. Airport noise restrictions have historically limited helicopter and small aircraft operations, particularly in wealthy communities like the Hamptons. Electric aircraft could potentially expand operating hours and landing locations due to their significantly reduced noise footprint, creating new market opportunities for Blade's services.
- Flight utilized BETA’s ALIA CTOL, which departed East Hampton Airport, New York and arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City
- Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal's participation as a passenger on the all-electric flight underscores the company’s commitment to quiet, emission-free air mobility
- Blade, BETA Technologies, and other Advanced Air Mobility manufacturers continue to collaborate on the integration of Electric Vertical Aircraft (“EVA” or “eVTOL”) in Blade’s service model
NEW YORK, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLDE,“Blade”, or the “Company”), participated in the historic first passenger-carrying flight of an electric aircraft in the U.S.
BETA Technologies’ ALIA conventional take-off and landing (“CTOL”) aircraft flew from East Hampton Airport in New York into John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The flight marked a major milestone in the advancement of all-electric aviation within commercial airspace.
Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal said, "This electric aircraft flight from Long Island to New York City highlights that quiet and emission-free flight is quickly becoming a reality, benefiting Blade's fliers, local residents, and other key stakeholders." Mr. Wiesenthal added, "I can think of no better way to demonstrate our company's commitment to quiet, electric aircraft commercialization than my participation on this flight as a passenger."
The ALIA CTOL, developed by Vermont-based BETA Technologies, is a battery-powered, fixed-wing aircraft designed for safe, efficient, and sustainable transport of people and cargo. The aircraft has logged thousands of miles across diverse real-world conditions and is the first of its kind to receive a market survey certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), enabling rigorous demonstration operations ahead of full certification.
“Flying our electric aircraft into one of the world’s busiest airports, with passengers, proves advanced air mobility is not some future concept, it’s here,” said BETA Technologies Founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “Today’s flight is about more than technology; it’s about innovation and connecting communities in safer, quieter, and more efficient ways. After years of rigorous safety testing in all types of environments, we’re proud to stand with the Port Authority and the city of New York to demonstrate exactly how this aircraft can serve cities by easing congestion, reducing emissions, and increasing accessibility.”
Blade’s asset-light model, coupled with its proprietary terminal infrastructure, is uniquely positioned to accelerate the commercial transition to quiet, emission-free aircraft. The successful demonstration flight affirms both the near-term feasibility of electric aviation in metropolitan environments and Blade’s leadership in shaping the future of sustainable air mobility.
About Blade Air Mobility
Blade Air Mobility provides air transportation and logistics for hospitals across the United States, where it is one of the largest transporters of human organs for transplant, and for passengers, with helicopter and fixed wing services primarily in the Northeast United States, and Southern Europe. Based in New York City, Blade's asset-light model, coupled with its exclusive passenger terminal infrastructure and proprietary technologies, is designed to facilitate a seamless transition from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to Electric Vertical Aircraft (“EVA” or “eVTOL”), enabling lower cost air mobility that is both quiet and emission-free.
For more information, visit www.blade.com.
About BETA Technologies
BETA Technologies is a Vermont-based aerospace company manufacturing the future of aviation. The company is producing next-generation aircraft — the fixed wing electric “ALIA CTOL” and the electric vertical takeoff and landing "ALIA VTOL" — as well as the technologies that enable them, such as electric propulsion systems, flight controls, and battery packs. In addition, BETA is deploying an infrastructure network across the U.S. to ensure this new class of aircraft has access to reliable charging. These products are being manufactured at BETA’s nearly 200,000 square foot production facility in South Burlington. With its low-cost, high reliability, and regional range capabilities, BETA’s products are designed to move goods and people to increase connectivity for rural areas and improve access to healthcare and e-commerce across the U.S. — and beyond.
For more information, visit www.beta.team.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by the use of words such as "will", “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may,” “plan,” “outlook,” “future” and “project” and other similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and may also relate to Blade’s future prospects, developments and business strategies. In particular, such forward-looking statements include statements concerning Blade’s future financial and operating performance, results of operations, business and capital deployment strategies and plans, customer behavior, competitive position, industry environment and growth opportunities, and the development and adoption of EVA technology. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Blade’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements include: our continued incurrence of significant losses; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related effects, failure of the markets for our offerings to grow as expected, or at all; our ability to effectively market and sell air transportation as a substitute for conventional methods of transportation; the inability or unavailability to use or take advantage of the shift, or lack thereof, to EVA technology; our ability to successfully enter new markets and launch new routes and services; any adverse publicity stemming from accidents involving small aircraft, helicopters or charter flights and, in particular, any accidents involving our third-party operators; the effects of competition; harm to our reputation and brand; our ability to provide high-quality customer support; our ability to maintain a high daily aircraft usage rate; changes in consumer preferences, discretionary spending and other economic conditions; impact of natural disasters, outbreaks and pandemics, economic, social, weather, growth constraints, and regulatory conditions or other circumstances on metropolitan areas and airports where we have geographic concentration; the effects of climate change, including potential increased impacts of severe weather and regulatory activity; the availability of aircraft fuel; our ability to address system failures, defects, errors, or vulnerabilities in our website, applications, backend systems or other technology systems or those of third-party technology providers; interruptions or security breaches of our information technology systems; our placements within mobile applications; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; our use of open source software; our ability to expand and maintain our infrastructure network; our ability to access additional funding; the increase of costs and risks associated with international expansion; our ability to identify, complete and successfully integrate future acquisitions; our ability to manage our growth; increases in insurance costs or reductions in insurance coverage; the loss of key members of our management team; our ability to maintain our company culture; our reliance on contractual relationships with certain transplant centers and Organ Procurement Organizations; effects of fluctuating financial results; our reliance on third-party operators; the availability of third-party operators; disruptions to third party operators; increases in insurance costs or reductions in insurance coverage for our third-party aircraft operators; the possibility that our third-party aircraft operators may illegally, improperly or otherwise inappropriately operate our branded aircraft; our reliance on third-party web service providers; changes in our regulatory environment; regulatory obstacles in local governments; the expansion of domestic and foreign privacy and security laws; the expansion of environmental regulations; our ability to remediate any material weaknesses or maintain internal controls over financial reporting; our ability to maintain effective internal controls and disclosure controls; changes in the fair value of our warrants; and other factors beyond our control. Additional factors can be found in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, each as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and Blade undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in expectations, future events or otherwise. We are unable to reconciled forward-looking non-GAAP guidance, including Flight Profit Margin, Adjusted Corporate Expenses, and Adjusted EBITDA, without unreasonable effort due to the variability and low visibility with respect to certain costs, the most significant of which are incentive compensation, transaction-related expenses, and certain value measurements, which may have unpredictable, and potentially significant, impact on future GAAP financial results.
Contacts
Media Relations
Lee Gold
Press@Blade.com
Investor Relations
Mat Schneider
Investors@blade.com
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