NEW YORK -- Blade Urban Air mobility is back in the news again with another partnership agreement. Blade is an urban air mobility provider that gives its clients access to inner-city air travel. The company recently announced the acquisition of 20 BETA Technologies electric aircraft and on May 5, announced a similar negotiation with Wisk Aero. Under the agreement, Wisk will own and operate up to 30 aircraft on Blade's network of dedicated air terminals. Wisk will be compensated based on flight time, as well as anticipated minimum flight hour guarantees.
Blade will broker private air travel services through their digital platform and operators such as Wisk will be the ones in charge of the actual transportation. Blade has traditionally operated conventional rotorcraft such as helicopters and seaplanes, but these recent moves show the company's desire to capitalize on the future urban air mobility market expected to arise with the advent of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that are racing towards a 2024 launch. This is part of a larger plan by Blade to "accelerate Blade’s transition from conventional rotorcraft to safe, quiet, emission-free Electric Vertical Aircraft," according to Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade.