Uber introduced a helicopter taxi from Manhattan to JFK: citizens say it is not faster than usual

Uber begins to transport passengers by helicopter from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy Airport, located in Queens, New York, the price of the service is 200 dollars. However, users claim that the helicopter delivers them to the airport no faster than a regular taxi. This publication writes mail Online.

It is reported that now the service, called Uber Copter, is available to all users of the state, whereas previously only Premium members could use it.

Flights between the airport and lower Manhattan can be ordered from October 7, they will cost from 200 to 225 dollars per person, Uber said.

Although Uber stated that the service was designed to reduce travel time, the Reuters correspondent who used the service concluded that this was not true. He made a flight to the airport from his office in the city center, it took 70 minutes, including a taxi ride to the helipad and the flight itself. Exactly the same amount of time will be required to get to the airport from the same office in a regular taxi with moderate traffic.

On the subject: To the airport in 5 minutes: a helicopter taxi appeared in New York

Uber Copter first made money in June 2019 and was available to Platinum and Diamond customers who spent more than 2500 dollars on Uber Pool or Uber Eats, or 833 dollars on Uber X.

How does the flight

The helicopter accommodates five people who can take carry-on luggage and a handbag with them. Before each take-off, passengers will be shown a video about safety during flights, similar to how it happens on airplanes.

The company said that the journey from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York will take 8 minutes and cost $ 200-225 per person. The price also includes ground transportation to or from the helipad.

On October 2, Uber conducted several test flights with locals on board in order to prepare for a full launch next week, just then the service was tested by a Reuters correspondent.

Uber helicopter flights are operated by HeliFlite Shares, a licensed charter company in New Jersey.

Uber transportation to the helipad in Manhattan is currently only available on the south side of the island. This avoids traffic jams and reduces travel time. However, Uber plans to gradually expand the travel area, said Eric Allison, head of Elevate, Uber's air program.

“Helicopters are certainly expensive, and it will be a premium product, but we think that in fact we can offer a fairly affordable service with Uber Copter,” Allison explained during an October 2 interview.

JFK is one of the largest airports in the country, and driving from overloaded Manhattan can take anywhere from one to two hours, while traveling by public transport from 50 to 75 minutes.

About company plans

Uber hopes that due to traffic and increased vehicle emissions, the NYC Copter project will pave the way for Uber Air, a futuristic taxi service that carries passengers with vertical takeoff and landing helicopters.

In 2023, the company plans to launch commercial air services in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Australian Melbourne. Flights are planned to be made from roofs of buildings specially designated for this purpose.

The company works with aircraft manufacturers Boeing Co, Bell Helicopter, Embraer SA, Mooney International Corp, Pipistrel and Karem Aircraft Inc to develop vehicles that are currently only available as a prototype.