Blade’s existing service connects the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The new service will fly passengers transferring to and from flights at JFK, in addition to Long Island and Queens residents commuting to or from Manhattan for business or leisure on weekdays.
The facility, located at the southern tip of Manhattan, close to Wall Street, is an important New York City hub for short distance aviation, the partners said.
The pilot programme aims to gather data on consumer demand, flier experience, and logistics specific to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. These insights will help accelerate and derisk the launch of electric vertical aircraft (EVA) or eVTOL operations at the facility. These quiet, emission-free aircraft are ultimately expected to replace helicopters.
Nathan Alexander, vice president of rotorcraft for Blade, said, “EVA’s quiet and emission-free design will support the expansion of convenient landing zones while reducing commuter costs. From logistics, passenger experience, booking, ground crew, and even flight time, EVA services will be nearly identical to Blade’s current helicopter offerings, but using next-generation aircraft.”
This collaboration follows Skyports’ recent appointment by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) as the operator of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport via their Downtown Skyport JV with Groupe ADP, underscoring the company’s commitment to advancing urban air mobility in New York City.
“Skyports and Blade are committed to transforming the Downtown Manhattan Heliport into one of the leading Electric Aircraft vertiports in the world. This alliance with Blade will serve to meaningfully accelerate this common mission to unlock the skies for eVTOL flights,” said Addison Ferrell, director of infrastructure for Skyports.
The new service is scheduled to begin in April 2025
