Unsurprisingly, given its fixation on novelty and one-upmanship, Dubai was among the first places on the planet to claim to be an early adopter of eVTOL aircraft. Multiple pioneers of so-called advanced air mobility (AAM) have flocked to its streets paved with gold seeking a piece of the action there and in neighboring Gulf States.
So, picture the consternation among rival eVTOL aircraft developers who woke up to the news on February 12 that the Dubai government had granted Joby Aviation exclusive access to the local market for air taxi services. Local officials and Joby confirmed that the move expressly excludes other manufacturers from the market for six years. Can you imagine the outcry if airports, FBOs, or entire cities announced they would allow access only to leading private flight providers like NetJets and VistaJet?
Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.
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