ANA Holdings (ANA HD) and Joby Aviation have successfully demonstrated Joby’s electric air taxi at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
The public flight, the first ever at a world expo, featured vertical take-off, wing borne transition, and smooth vertical landing.
Conducted in partnership with ANA HD, the flight signalled the next stage of efforts to establish a national air taxi ecosystem. Over 13 days, Joby intends to perform more than 20 demonstration flights.
Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt praised Japan’s history of transport innovation, noting its bullet trains and automotive industry. He said Japan is now poised to lead in advanced air mobility. He emphasised the importance of engaging communities, regulators, and partners to realise the vision of air taxis.
ANA HD President and CEO Koji Shibata hailed the flight as a milestone towards introducing commercial air taxi services in Japan. He highlighted government and private-sector support as critical to shaping this new era of mobility.
Joby’s aircraft, painted in ANA livery, showcased its quiet, all-electric technology to expo visitors, expected to reach 200,000 daily. The demonstrations also provide data on airspace integration, feeding into regulatory development with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.
Both companies are working towards a phased rollout of air taxi services, beginning in Tokyo. Plans include a vertiport network, pilot training, and maintenance infrastructure, supported by partners in real estate, manufacturing, and local government.
Joby maintains strong ties to Japan, with Toyota as a key investor, and previously conducted a flight at Mount Fuji in 2024.
The aircraft carries a pilot and four passengers, flying up to 200 mph. It offers a fast, clean, and quiet alternative to congested ground travel.
