Can AI Make Air Taxis Take Off from City Garages?

AI-led vertiports could speed up air taxi adoption but face hurdles in regulation and rollout

21 Jan 2026

Urban air mobility is nearing a pivotal stage in the United States, with attention shifting from aircraft design to the less visible question of how those aircraft will operate on the ground. As electric air taxis edge closer to potential commercial service, companies are increasingly focused on managing passengers, vehicles and space in crowded cities, where efficiency could determine whether the industry can scale.

That shift is evident in a recent partnership between Joby Aviation, an electric air taxi developer, and Metropolis, a mobility technology firm. The companies said they plan to develop AI-enabled vertiports in several U.S. cities by converting existing parking facilities into hubs for air taxi operations. The approach relies on repurposing underused urban infrastructure rather than constructing entirely new sites, though any deployment would depend on regulatory approval, construction schedules and aviation certification.

According to the companies, artificial intelligence would underpin many aspects of vertiport operations. Automated systems are expected to control passenger access, coordinate arrivals and departures and manage ground activity in real time. By replacing manual processes and fixed schedules with software-driven coordination, operators aim to shorten wait times and reduce operating costs, two factors that have slowed adoption of new transportation models in the past.

“This is about removing friction,” said an industry analyst familiar with the initiative. “Air taxis will only scale if the ground experience is fast, predictable and affordable. AI offers a pathway to that, without adding layers of staff and complexity.”

The emphasis on digital infrastructure reflects a broader trend across advanced mobility sectors, where companies are investing as heavily in software and operations as in vehicles themselves. In urban air mobility, analysts say, success is likely to hinge on throughput, reliability and integration with existing transportation networks. Vertiports that can handle high volumes efficiently may determine whether air taxis remain a premium service or become a practical option for routine travel.

Still, significant obstacles remain. Data privacy, cybersecurity concerns, regulatory scrutiny and public acceptance are expected to influence how quickly these concepts move from planning to operation. Yet by pairing aircraft development with AI-driven ground systems, Joby Aviation and its partners are signaling that commercialization is being actively pursued. If the model proves viable, such vertiports could help shape how cities accommodate a new layer of transportation in the years ahead.