Ever fantasize about commuting to work on a lavish helicopter, a la Succession’s Logan Roy?
Several companies are attempting to make beating traffic (by flying over it) a reality, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Most of the flight-share innovation has centered on San Francisco’s Bay Area — where egregious congestion (which grew by 60% from 2010-16) makes even short-distance commutes hours-long headaches — but expansions to several other metropolitan areas are in the works.
The biggest provider is BlackBird, an app that connects pilots and planes directly to commuters on an on-demand basis for trips in California at prices as low as $69, without the hassle of security lines. The company has already raised $16m.
Another startup called Voom, which is owned by aviation giant Airbus, specializes in easing short-distance commutes, with service from SFO to Napa (25 minutes), San Jose (20 minutes), and Oakland (15 minutes). At $200-$270 per trip, pricing remains high for anyone without stock options, but Voom’s speed and range are impressive.
And in 2023, Uber Elevate will launch a short-haul service (the marketing video makes it look cooler than the Jetsons) in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne.
Until 2023, enjoy rush hour.