Nice Airport’s collaboration with Joby paves the way for air taxi services
A partnership with Blade, Heli Sécurité and Monacair sees Nice Côte d’Azur Airport edge closer to launching an air taxi network on the French Riviera
The second-largest airport in France after Paris and Europe’s second-largest hub for business aviation, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is positioning itself as a testing ground for the airport of the future.
The airport has partnered with Blade – the air mobility arm of Joby Aviation, alongside Héli Sécurité and Monacair, to prepare for the arrival of Europe’s first commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles in Europe.
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport: The gateway to the French Riviera
The gateway to the French Riviera, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport serves destinations including Monaco, Cannes and Saint-Tropez. It welcomed over 15 million passengers through its doors in 2025. Along with Cannes Mandelieu and Gulf de Saint-Tropez, it is managed by Groupe Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, which has made low-carbon, sustainable aviation a core focus.
Certified on the Airport Council International’s (ACI’s) Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 5, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has turned its attention to electric flight. The airport already boasts a high volume of wealthy clientele travelling through the airport, while the helicopter passenger transport market has been firmly established in the region for over 50 years.
Nice’s coastal location is ideal for eVTOLs
The airport’s coastal location allows flight paths that avoid populated areas, while offering quick, easy access to iconic destinations for the well-heeled passenger, such as Monaco, Cannes and Saint-Tropez. It is an ideal candidate to host one of Europe’s first commercial eVTOL networks.
Once certified by European and French authorities, Joby’s electric air taxi will offer a quieter alternative to helicopters with zero direct CO₂ emissions, symbolising a new generation of electric air travel.
Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, underlined the airport’s commitment to developing air mobility in the region. “We would be particularly proud if Nice Côte d’Azur Airport were among the first in Europe to host eVTOLs in commercial operation”, he said.
“As a testing ground for the airport of the future, we support all innovations that help maintain the region’s appeal and connectivity while reducing CO2 emissions and noise pollution from air traffic.”
Industry partners bring decades of experience
Heli Sécurité currently operates commercial helicopter routes within France, notably between Nice and Monaco, leveraging operational expertise in running scheduled services.
Monacair, the Principality’s long-standing operator, contributes established market expertise in premium air transport.
Meanwhile, as the air mobility brand of the Joby Aviation group, Blade is supporting the commercial and operational development of the future eVTOL offering. It draws on experience in on-demand air mobility, linking current operations with the gradual rollout of Joby’s electric air taxis.
“Electric aviation has the potential to profoundly transform our modes of transportation, making air travel cleaner, quieter, and more accessible,” noted JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby.
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport serves as a model for how airports are preparing for this new era of aviation, and we are proud to offer the public the opportunity to experience our aircraft.”
Although Joby has yet to confirm a launch date or pricing for its eVTOL operations, its aircraft is already flying commercially in Dubai, giving it a head start on certification experience elsewhere. Combined with Nice’s established helicopter-transfer market, that places Nice in a strong position in the long race to launch commercial air taxi services.
Why France is one of Europe’s more advanced eVTOL markets
France is one of Europe’s more advanced eVTOL markets, although progress has been staggered.
Paris had positioned itself as the frontrunner ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, when French airport operator Groupe ADP and eVTOL manufacturer Volocopter spent years building infrastructure, including a five-vertiport network featuring a floating pad on the Seine at Austerlitz.
It aimed to run Europe’s first commercial eVTOL passenger service during the Games. However, certification for commercial passenger flights from EASA and the French civil aviation authority (DGAC) didn’t materialise in time, and the Olympic debut failed to take off.
Volocopter and Groupe ADP then shifted their focus to piloted validation flights at the Saint-Cyr-l’École vertiport. However, at the end of 2024, Volocopter filed for insolvency before striking a long-term agreement with French helicopter operator Jet Systems to supply VoloCity eVTOL aircraft for the Paris region, contingent on EASA certification.
Featured image: Joby Aviation
