(Reuters) -Air-taxi maker Joby Aviation said on Wednesday that it planned to bring Blade’s helicopter and seaplane services to the Uber app as soon as next year.

Joby acquired Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business in August for up to $125 million, and plans to use the helicopter ride-share firm’s infrastructure to launch its own electric air taxi service globally in the future.

Air-taxi firms are racing to secure approvals and commercialize electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to meet the growing demand for faster and more sustainable urban transportation.

Backed by major airlines and defense contractors, these firms aim to ease congestion in crowded cities by offering short-haul flights between airports and urban centers.

U.S. President Donald Trump, in June, told

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