Uber Helicopter Rides Are Now Available to All Customers (UPDATE)

UPDATE (October 3, 2019): Over the summer, Uber offered air transit via helicopters for all New York Uber Rewards members of Platinum or Diamond status. For $200—$225 USD per ride, passengers were transported from an area near the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Starting today, Uber Copter rides will be available to all customers, including complimentary ground transportation on either side of the flight.

Starting in 2023, Uber plans to launch Uber Air in Los Angeles, Dallas and Melbourne, Australia. For now, Uber is seeking out more heliports in Manhattan to operate their services as a way to shorten commute times.

ORIGINAL STORY (June 6, 2019): Although Uber is looking to get into the flying taxi game soon, the person-to-person transportations service will offer air transit via helicopters in New York City beginning this summer. Uber Copter will be available to all New York Uber Rewards members of Platinum or Diamond status and will average between $200—$225 USD per ride, according to Uber Elevate‘s Nikhil Goel.

Trips will run between an area near the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan and Kennedy Airport in an estimated eight minutes of flight time. Although the company has yet to make an official announcement, it’s been reported the helicopters can hold up to five passengers with two pilots, operated by the Heliflite charter service.

According to Uber, it’s the company’s first “multi-modal” option, where this eight-minute helicopter flight is connected to taxi rides each side. “Uber Copter offers the first real demonstration of the Elevate experience. We’ve built Uber Copter to provide us with insight and real-world experience as we continue to lay the foundation for Uber Air,” said the head of Uber Elevate, Eric Allison.

“This is Uber’s first multi-modal option, integrating an 8-minute helicopter flight with an Uber trip on both ends with a single tap of a button. Uber Rewards Platinum and Diamond members will get the first opportunity to try this new fast and seamless way to get between Manhattan and JFK.”

In other tech news, Apple may be removing its 3D Touch feature.

Uber will offer helicopter service between Manhattan and JFK Airport in July. For an 8-minute, one-way flight, the average ride will cost between $200 and $225 per person and include private ground transportation. https://t.co/dtHrIoa7Aq

— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 6, 2019