UBER TO LAUNCH HELICOPTER TRIPS IN 2026 AS PART OF NEXT STAGE IN URBAN AIR MOBILITY

Uber is preparing to take its ride-hailing model to the skies, announcing plans to expand into helicopter trips starting in 2026.

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The move builds on the company's earlier experiments with air transport and marks a significant step in its ambition to redefine urban mobility beyond cars and food delivery.

FROM UBERCOPTER TO FULL-SCALE SERVICE

Uber has tested helicopter rides before. In 2019, it piloted Uber Copter in New York City, offering premium customers short trips between Manhattan and JFK Airport. The service was discontinued during the pandemic, but it gave Uber valuable insight into pricing, logistics, and demand for on-demand air travel.

The 2026 launch is expected to go beyond pilot projects, offering scheduled helicopter routes in select global cities where traffic congestion makes aerial transport a viable alternative. Industry insiders say Uber is likely to begin with high-density urban hubs such as New York, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Dubai, and Paris, where existing heliport infrastructure can support rapid scaling.

WHY UBER IS MOVING INTO HELICOPTERS NOW