Uber Offers Helicopter Service to JFK Airport

• Uber Offers Helicopter Service to JFK Airport

Uber added a new service to its growing ridesharing company.

The American ridesharing company has opened its helicopter service that was initially meant for selected passengers to every Uber account owner heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport from Manhattan, New york.

While Uber won’t send a helicopter to pick the passenger up at home, the expensive service starting from $200 a person includes an Uber ride to the helipad in lower Manhattan, an eight-minute helicopter trip and another Uber ride to the terminal.

According to Uber Copter, the service is available Monday through Friday and its during the afternoon rush only. Also, prices could rise as much as $225 per passenger depending on demand.

The service would help Uber gather data for its soon to be launched air taxi business.

Uber is working on using lightweight electric aircraft for air taxi by 2023. Presently, HeliFlite, a company that provides flights in Manhattan operates Uber aircraft.

“This is our first step to what will become a future Uber Air network,” Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate, said in a statement.