Blade Air Mobility Announces Expansion of Airport Service with New Route Between Newark and Manhattan

Rhea-AI Summary

Blade Air Mobility has enhanced its services by launching a helicopter route connecting Manhattan to Newark Airport, available six days a week at $195 per seat, or $95 for Blade passholders. A dedicated terminal space at Newark is in development, improving the travel experience and accommodating planned Electric Vertical Aircraft services. Blade's JFK route also continues to operate six days a week as passenger volumes surpass pre-COVID levels, driven by increased demand and the reopening of international travel.

Positive

• Launch of helicopter service from Manhattan to Newark Airport at competitive pricing, enhancing accessibility.
• Development of a dedicated terminal at Newark to improve traveler experience and efficiency.
• Increased passenger volumes on JFK route exceeding pre-COVID levels, indicating strong demand.

Negative

• None.

• Helicopter service between Manhattan and Newark Airport is now available six days per week for $195 per seat, or $95 for Blade Airport passholders

• Blade fliers will soon have access to a dedicated terminal space at Newark Airport, pursuant to a long-term agreement with Signature Flight Support

• Blade’s service between Manhattan and JFK, which also operates six days per week, continues

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (“Blade”, NASDAQ: BLDE) announced the expansion of its Blade Airport product with the launch of helicopter service between Manhattan and Newark Airport. Flights are available between 7am and 7pm Monday through Friday, and 3pm to 7pm on Sundays for $195 per seat or $95 per seat for Blade Airport passholders.

Fliers will soon enjoy access to Blade’s private terminal space at Newark, which is currently being developed adjacent to the airport helipad, pursuant to a long-term agreement with Signature Flight Support (“Signature”). The agreement with Signature, which runs through 2028, will enable Blade to provide a seamless and comfortable experience for fliers, improve flight turn-times and begin planning for the infrastructure requirements of Electric Vertical Aircraft (“EVA”). The terminal will also serve to accommodate expected increases in passenger volumes as Blade introduces EVA service.

“With 27 million people battling traffic between Manhattan and the three New York Area airports in 2019, Blade’s airport transfers, which are only 5 minutes in duration, relieve this significant point of travel friction in our core New York City market,” said Melissa Tomkiel, Blade’s President. “Given the strong growth we see in both business and leisure passenger volumes on our JFK route, we’re pleased to answer our fliers’ calls to bring back Blade service between Manhattan and Newark.”

“In recent weeks, Blade’s JFK passenger volumes have exceeded average pre-Covid levels,” said Will Heyburn, Blade’s Chief Financial Officer. “This great signal, coupled with the recent re-opening of international travel to the United States, drove our decision to expand airport service to Newark ahead of the holidays.”

Airport service between Manhattan and Newark or JFK is available on Blade’s app or blade.com.

About Blade

Blade is a technology-powered urban air mobility platform committed to reducing travel friction by providing cost-effective air transportation alternatives to some of the most congested ground routes in the U.S. and abroad. Today, the company predominantly uses helicopters and amphibious aircraft for its passenger routes and is also one of the largest air medical transporters of human organs for transplant in the world. Its asset-light model, coupled with its exclusive passenger terminal infrastructure, is designed to facilitate a seamless transition to Electric Vertical Aircraft ("EVA" or “eVTOL”), enabling lower cost air mobility to the public that is both quiet and emission-free.

For more information, visit https://ir.blade.com/.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “continue”, “expect”, “estimate”, “may”, “plan”, “outlook”, “future” and “project” and other similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, include statements concerning the benefits of the transaction involving Blade and Signature and Blade’s expectations and intentions as well as its future performance and service offerings. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events and actual results may differ materially from the results predicted.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements include factors can be found in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and, except as required by law, Blade undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in expectations, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211119005230/en/

For Media Relations

Phil Denning / Nora Flaherty

BladeMediaRelations@icrinc.com



Investor Relations

Tom Cook

BladeIR@icrinc.com

Source: Blade Air Mobility, Inc.

FAQ

What new service has Blade Air Mobility launched?

Blade has launched helicopter service between Manhattan and Newark Airport, operating six days a week.

What is the cost of the new helicopter service by Blade?

The cost is $195 per seat or $95 for Blade Airport passholders.

What is the expected impact of Blade's new terminal at Newark Airport?

The terminal aims to improve travel experiences and prepare for future Electric Vertical Aircraft services.

How are passenger volumes on Blade's JFK route performing?

Passenger volumes on the JFK route have exceeded average pre-COVID levels recently.