Public Flight Demonstration at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Public flights of Joby’s aircraft at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, in collaboration with ANA, signify a global first and a new chapter in Japan’s air taxi ecosystem.
ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation, a company that focuses on developing electric air taxis for commercial service, announced a successful public flight demonstration of Joby’s air taxi at Expo 2025. The flight included operations such as vertical takeoff, a transition to wingborne flight, and a vertical landing. This event is part of the initiative to develop a national air taxi ecosystem in Japan and marks the beginning of the next phase in this endeavor. Over 13 days, Joby intends to conduct more than 20 flights.
“Japan has been a leader in reshaping ground transportation, thanks to its outstanding automotive sector and famous bullet trains. Now, it is ready to lead once more, this time in aerial transportation,” stated JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of Joby. “Our current collaborations position us to engage communities, work with regulators, and establish more partnerships to turn our vision into reality.”
Koji Shibata, President and CEO of ANA HD, expressed, “This demonstration flight symbolizes a significant advancement towards making our air taxi service operational in Japan. With the support of local and national officials, along with our partners in the private sector, we aim to pave the way for a new era in air mobility.”
Joby’s aircraft featuring the iconic ANA design showcased its silent, all-electric flight capabilities to Expo 2025 attendees, expected to draw up to 200,000 visitors daily. These flights are pivotal in fostering public acceptance of air taxis and gathering crucial data on airspace integration, contributing to regulatory frameworks developed in partnership with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).
Joby and ANA HD are progressing towards a national air taxi ecosystem in Japan, initiating their rollout in Tokyo, which will include a network of vertiports, pilot training programs, and aircraft maintenance services. They are actively cooperating with stakeholders from real estate to manufacturing and local government. These demonstrations lay the groundwork for future deployment phases, backed by Joby’s strong ties to Japan, including significant investment from Toyota and a successful flight held at Mount Fuji in 2024.
Joby’s aircraft can accommodate a pilot and four passengers, achieving speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h). This offers a fast, eco-friendly alternative to surface transportation, slashing hour-long car trips down to minutes while alleviating urban congestion and reducing noise and air pollution in communities.
