Electric Aviation & eVTOL — 2026-05-13
Joby Aviation completed its "Electric Skies Tour" in New York City this week, including the first-ever point-to-point eVTOL flights to Manhattan's Downtown Skyport, as the company advances toward a late-2026 commercial launch. Archer Aviation also signaled its intention to begin commercial air taxi services in major U.S. cities this year, while both companies race toward FAA certification. Industry observers are closely watching whether either firm can deliver on its 2026 commercial timeline.
Electric Aviation & eVTOL — 2026-05-13
Key Highlights
Joby and Skyports Complete NYC's First Point-to-Point eVTOL Flights
Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure completed New York City's first-ever point-to-point eVTOL flights to Downtown Skyport as part of the ongoing "2026 Electric Skies Tour." The milestone showcased future air taxi routes linking Manhattan and JFK Airport, a corridor that has become central to Joby's commercial launch strategy.
Archer and Joby Both Target 2026 Commercial Launch in U.S. Cities
In a report published May 12, both Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation confirmed they expect to begin commercial air taxi flights in major U.S. cities this year. "The goal is to have half a million people in the biggest cities in the country start to see these aircraft as part of your everyday commute," Archer Aviation's CEO said. The report noted that Wisk and Supernal are also advancing their programs.
Joby Aviation Stock Up 8.9% Following NYC Flights and FAA Progress
Joby Aviation's stock rose approximately 8.9% in the wake of its New York City eVTOL demonstration flights and continued FAA certification progress. In Q1 2026, Joby reported sales of $24.25 million and a net loss of $109.95 million, with basic loss per share from continuing operations of $0.12.
Analysts Weigh Joby vs. Archer: Risk and Reward
A new analysis published May 12 by Motley Fool argues that Joby Aviation holds a stronger position over Archer Aviation in terms of risk-adjusted return, pointing to Joby's more advanced FAA certification progress and higher-profile commercial partnerships. Archer's share price, meanwhile, is trading well below its target, with 24/7 Wall St. publishing a $12.01 price target on May 12 implying 84% upside.
What's Next for Joby After NYC?
A May 8 analysis from Motley Fool examined Joby's path following its New York City campaign, noting that the company is progressing toward its FAA certification and a planned late-2026 commercial service launch in the city.
Analysis
How close are we to commercial air taxis?
The eVTOL industry is closer to commercial operations than at any previous point, but meaningful hurdles remain. Joby Aviation is widely considered the U.S. frontrunner: in November 2025, the FAA granted Joby a Type Inspection Authorization, marking the first time any eVTOL company reached Stage 4 of the five-stage FAA certification process. This positions Joby for a potential type certificate by late 2026.
Archer Aviation's Midnight and Joby's aircraft are among only two eVTOL designs for which the FAA has published final airworthiness criteria, a necessary prerequisite for commercial certification.
The picture that emerges from this week's news is one of genuine momentum: both Joby and Archer are actively flying demonstration campaigns in New York, securing vertiport infrastructure partnerships, and managing investor expectations around 2026 launches. However, both companies continue to burn significant cash — Joby's Q1 2026 net loss of nearly $110 million underscores the enormous capital requirements before profitability.
The key remaining uncertainty is the pace of FAA certification. Stage 4 (conformity testing) must be followed by Stage 5 (flight testing to FAA standards), and history suggests that final certification timelines are hard to predict. Commercial viability will also depend on whether vertiport infrastructure, such as the new Downtown Skyport, can scale quickly enough to support meaningful route networks.
What to Watch
- Joby FAA Stage 5 Testing: Following Stage 4 clearance, the next milestone is full conformity flight testing under FAA oversight. Any announcement on Stage 5 progression will be a major signal for the late-2026 commercial timeline.
- Archer Midnight Certification Progress: Archer has FAA airworthiness criteria published but has not publicly confirmed its own Stage 4 milestone. Watch for updates from Archer's investor communications in the coming weeks.
- NYC Vertiport Expansion: Skyports Infrastructure's Manhattan Downtown Skyport is now operational for demonstrations. The next watch item is whether permanent operating permits are granted and whether additional skyports are announced across the NYC metro.
- Q2 2026 Earnings and Cash Runway: With Joby burning roughly $110M per quarter, the next earnings cycle will clarify whether the company has sufficient runway to reach a revenue-generating commercial launch without additional capital raises.
- Wisk and Supernal: Both companies were named alongside Joby and Archer as expecting commercial operations in 2026, though they received less attention this week. Watch for their own certification or demonstration announcements.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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