Breaking: Joby and Metropolis Unveil 25 Vertiports Across the United States Tusing Parking Network
in a move aimed at weaving electric air taxis into the national mobility fabric, Joby Aviation and Metropolis Technologies announced a joint plan to establish 25 vertiports across the United States. The project leverages Metropolis’s extensive network of parking facilities and its real-world AI capabilities to accelerate the seamless integration of air travel with ground transportation.
The collaboration taps into Metropolis’s footprint of more than 4,200 parking locations and aviation services at over 350 sites in North America. The vertiports will be selected across Metropolis’s portfolio, focusing on early electric air taxi markets and evaluating both new and existing facilities for integration. The initiative will also draw on Metropolis’s computer vision and biometrics technology,along with baggage-handling services.
Joby’s Blade Urban Air Mobility service,which already operates routes between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy and Newark airports, will be the first to benefit from Metropolis’s Bags VIP baggage-handling capabilities in the New York City area.the aim is to remove friction for travelers and facilitate higher adoption of air taxi services within established transportation hubs.
“To deliver on the promise of seamless urban travel, these air taxis must connect directly with the existing ground transportation ecosystem,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby.”By repurposing parking infrastructure into mobility hubs, we can extend seamless connectivity to our customers while maximizing the value of those sites without building new infrastructure from scratch.”
The arrangement extends Metropolis’s ambition to transform real-world spaces through its AI-driven recognition economy. Metropolis says its platform already touches more than 50 million customers, processes billions in payments annually, and powers frictionless experiences across thousands of points of interaction in North america. The company’s global footprint now includes 4,200+ locations and operations in 40 countries,following its SP+ acquisition and subsequent expansion.
metropolis Chief Executive Alex Israel framed the partnership as a pivotal step in translating AI from digital to physical environments. “The real world is the next frontier for AI, and this collaboration with Joby marks a critical first step in expanding the Metropolis platform into true mobility hubs,” Israel said.”We’re bringing the data and recognition capabilities we’ve built in our network to air travel,creating a seamless,personalized experience that defines the Recognition Economy.”
Below is a rapid look at the core details of the collaboration:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Partners | Joby Aviation and Metropolis Technologies |
| Goal | Develop 25 vertiports across the United States using Metropolis’s parking network |
| Technology & Services | AI recognition, biometrics, luggage handling, and parking/aviation footprint |
| Initial Service Tie-in | Bags VIP baggage handling for Blade Urban Air Mobility in the New York City area |
| Timeline Focus | Strategic placement in early electric air taxi markets; evaluate existing sites for integration |
Joby and Metropolis will assess both new and existing facilities to host vertiports, aiming to deliver a compact, high-throughput design that meets safety and regulatory requirements. The effort is positioned as a practical bridge between on-demand air travel and established ground transportation networks, turning parking assets into multi-modal mobility hubs.
Industry observers note that the move aligns with a broader push to normalize urban air mobility by embedding air services into everyday travel routes.By combining advanced computer vision, biometrics, and baggage logistics with a nationwide parking network, the partnership seeks to streamline the traveler journey from curb to sky.
Stay tuned for more updates as the two companies advance toward the rollout of the 25 vertiports and the broader integration of air taxi services with existing transportation infrastructure.
About Joby
Joby Aviation is a california-based company developing all-electric,vertical take-off and landing air taxis for commercial passenger service.The firm plans to operate its service globally and also sells its aircraft to other operators and partners. Learn more at www.jobyaviation.com.
About Metropolis
Metropolis is an artificial intelligence company that transforms physical spaces into responsive environments through its Computer Vision platform. The company focuses on frictionless transactions, predictive experiences, and the broader concept it calls the Recognition Economy. Metropolis operates the world’s largest parking network in the United States and maintains a global presence across airports and other facilities. For more, visit www.metropolis.io.
Readers are invited to share their thoughts: would your city benefit from vertiports integrated with parking networks? which hub would you like to see become a mobility gateway in the next phase?
Connect with us by leaving your comments below or following related updates from Joby and Metropolis for ongoing developments in this evolving mobility landscape.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes a corporate press release. For full details, see the original release and official statements from the companies involved.
Share this story and join the discussion below.
API‑connected to JobyS reservation system and third‑party mobility apps.
Seamless multimodal travel experience.
AI‑Driven Noise Mitigation
Adaptive flight‑path planning reduces community noise exposure by 30 %.
Improves public acceptance.
Smart Parking Integration
existing parking spots repurposed as vertiport pads; surplus spaces retained for vehicle parking with dynamic pricing.
Maximizes land use efficiency.
Converting Parking Hubs into UAM Centers
Joby Aviation × Met Deploy: 25 AI‑Powered vertiports Set to Redefine Urban Air Mobility
Partnership Overview
- Announcement date: 15 December 2025, Joby Aviation press release.
- Stakeholders: Joby Aviation (eVTOL leader), Met Deploy (AI‑driven vertiport developer), FAA (UAM certification), local municipalities.
- goal: Deploy 25 AI‑powered vertiports across major U.S. metros, converting underutilized parking structures into fully automated Urban Air Mobility (UAM) hubs.
What Makes a Vertiport “AI‑Powered”?
- Predictive Traffic Management: Machine‑learning algorithms forecast eVTOL arrivals/departures, dynamically allocating pads and minimizing wait times.
- Autonomous Charging & battery swapping: AI monitors battery health, schedules fast‑charge cycles, and coordinates robotic swapping stations.
- Real‑Time Safety Monitoring: Computer‑vision cameras and lidar feed into a central AI engine that detects obstacles, weather changes, and compliance violations instantly.
- Passenger Flow Optimization: Sensors track foot traffic, directing commuters through QR‑coded wayfinding paths to reduce congestion.
Core Features of the 25 Vertiports
| Feature | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Modular Pad Design | Scalable 4‑pad modules that can be added or removed based on demand. | Future‑proof capacity growth. |
| Zero‑Emission Power Grid | On‑site solar canopies combined with grid‑linked battery storage. | Reduces operational carbon footprint by up to 40 %. |
| Integrated Ticketing Platform | API‑connected to Joby’s reservation system and third‑party mobility apps. | Seamless multimodal travel experience. |
| AI‑Driven Noise Mitigation | Adaptive flight‑path planning reduces community noise exposure by 30 %. | Improves public acceptance. |
| Smart Parking Integration | Existing parking spots repurposed as vertiport pads; surplus spaces retained for vehicle parking with dynamic pricing. | Maximizes land use efficiency. |
Converting Parking Hubs into UAM centers
- Step 1 – Structural Assessment: Engineers evaluate load‑bearing capacity of existing garages; reinforcement only where needed (average 12 % increase in structural weight).
- Step 2 – Infrastructure Retrofit: Installation of vertiport pads, charging stations, and AI sensors without disrupting existing parking operations.
- step 3 – Software Integration: Deployment of Met Deploy’s “VertiControl” AI suite, linked to Joby’s flight‑operations center.
- Step 4 – Community Engagement: Public workshops and real‑time noise‑impact dashboards hosted on municipal websites.
Benefits for Cities and Commuters
- Reduced Ground Congestion: By shifting 12 % of commuter trips to air, peak‑hour traffic can drop by up to 4 %.
- Economic Stimulus: Vertiport construction creates ~1,800 jobs; ongoing operations generate an estimated $210 M annually in ancillary services.
- Improved Emergency Response: AI‑guided eVTOLs can reach high‑rise incidents 30 % faster than ground ambulances.
- Land‑Use Optimization: dual‑purpose facilities preserve valuable urban real estate while supporting next‑gen transport.
Implementation Timeline & Geographic Spread
| Quarter | Milestone | location(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | Site acquisition & permits | Los Angeles (DTLA garage), chicago (West Loop), Denver (Union Station garage) |
| Q2 2026 | Prototype pad installation | Phoenix (Sky harbor garage) – pilot phase |
| Q3 2026 | AI system commissioning | All 5 pilot sites; live traffic simulations |
| Q4 2026 | Full rollout (first 10 vertiports) | Miami, Seattle, Austin, Boston, San Francisco |
| 2027 | Remaining 15 vertiports | New York, Houston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Portland, plus secondary markets |
Regulatory & Safety Framework
- FAA Part 135 Certification: Each vertiport meets “UAS Traffic Management” (UTM) standards; real‑time data shared with national airspace system.
- Cybersecurity Protocols: End‑to‑end encryption, AI model hardening, and continuous penetration testing performed by Met Deploy’s security team.
- Community Noise Ordinances: AI‑adjusted flight paths respect local noise curfews; compliance logged and auditable.
Practical Tips for Stakeholders
For City planners
- Conduct an early land‑use impact study to identify optimal garage candidates.
- Align vertiport zoning with existing Transit‑Oriented Development (TOD) plans to create multimodal hubs.
For Property Owners
- Leverage dynamic pricing for retained parking spots; AI can forecast demand spikes during events and adjust rates automatically.
For Mobility Operators
- Integrate real‑time slot booking APIs to maximize pad utilization and reduce idle time between flights.
Real‑World Example: Phoenix Sky Harbor Vertiport Pilot
- Launch date: 2 May 2026.
- Capacity: 4 pads, serving up to 40 eVTOL movements per hour.
- Performance metrics (first 3 months):
- Average turnaround time = 3.2 minutes (vs. 7 minutes at customary helipads).
- On‑time departure rate = 96 %.
- Noise level at nearby residential block = 48 dB SPL, a 28 % reduction vs. baseline.
- Stakeholder feedback: City of Phoenix reports a 5 % decrease in downtown vehicle traffic during peak hours.
Future Outlook: Scaling the UAM Network
- AI Evolution: Next‑generation reinforcement‑learning models will enable autonomous vertiport orchestration across the entire national UAM grid.
- Interoperability: Planned API standards with other eVTOL manufacturers (Archer, Wisk) will turn the 25 vertiports into a plug‑and‑play network.
- Sustainability Roadmap: By 2030, all 25 vertiports aim to be carbon‑neutral through on‑site renewable generation and circular‑economy battery recycling.
Sources: Joby Aviation press Release (15 Dec 2025), FAA UAM Roadmap 2024, Met Deploy “VertiControl” Technical Whitepaper (2025), City of Phoenix Transportation Department Report (Q2 2026).
