Blade Participates in First Electric Passenger Flight in the U.S.
Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal's participation as a passenger on the all-electric flight underscores the company's commitment to quiet, emission-free air mobility
Blade, BETA Technologies, and other Advanced Air Mobility manufacturers continue to collaborate on the integration of Electric Vertical Aircraft ('EVA' or 'eVTOL') in Blade's service model
NEW YORK, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLDE,'Blade', or the 'Company'), participated in the historic first passenger-carrying flight of an electric aircraft in the U.S.
BETA Technologies' ALIA conventional take-off and landing ('CTOL') aircraft flew from East Hampton Airport in New York into John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The flight marked a major milestone in the advancement of all-electric aviation within commercial airspace.
Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal said, "This electric aircraft flight from Long Island to New York City highlights that quiet and emission-free flight is quickly becoming a reality, benefiting Blade's fliers, local residents, and other key stakeholders." Mr. Wiesenthal added, "I can think of no better way to demonstrate our company's commitment to quiet, electric aircraft commercialization than my participation on this flight as a passenger."
The ALIA CTOL, developed by Vermont-based BETA Technologies, is a battery-powered, fixed-wing aircraft designed for safe, efficient, and sustainable transport of people and cargo. The aircraft has logged thousands of miles across diverse real-world conditions and is the first of its kind to receive a market survey certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), enabling rigorous demonstration operations ahead of full certification.
'Flying our electric aircraft into one of the world's busiest airports, with passengers, proves advanced air mobility is not some future concept, it's here,' said BETA Technologies Founder and CEO Kyle Clark. 'Today's flight is about more than technology; it's about innovation and connecting communities in safer, quieter, and more efficient ways. After years of rigorous safety testing in all types of environments, we're proud to stand with the Port Authority and the city of New York to demonstrate exactly how this aircraft can serve cities by easing congestion, reducing emissions, and increasing accessibility.'
Blade's asset-light model, coupled with its proprietary terminal infrastructure, is uniquely positioned to accelerate the commercial transition to quiet, emission-free aircraft. The successful demonstration flight affirms both the near-term feasibility of electric aviation in metropolitan environments and Blade's leadership in shaping the future of sustainable air mobility.
About Blade Air Mobility
Blade Air Mobility provides air transportation and logistics for hospitals across the United States, where it is one of the largest transporters of human organs for transplant, and for passengers, with helicopter and fixed wing services primarily in the Northeast United States, and Southern Europe. Based in New York City, Blade's asset-light model, coupled with its exclusive passenger terminal infrastructure and proprietary technologies, is designed to facilitate a seamless transition from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to Electric Vertical Aircraft ('EVA' or 'eVTOL'), enabling lower cost air mobility that is both quiet and emission-free.
For more information, visit www.blade.com.
About BETA Technologies
BETA Technologies is a Vermont-based aerospace company manufacturing the future of aviation. The company is producing next-generation aircraft — the fixed wing electric 'ALIA CTOL' and the electric vertical takeoff and landing "ALIA VTOL" — as well as the technologies that enable them, such as electric propulsion systems, flight controls, and battery packs. In addition, BETA is deploying an infrastructure network across the U.S. to ensure this new class of aircraft has access to reliable charging. These products are being manufactured at BETA's nearly 200,000 square foot production facility in South Burlington. With its low-cost, high reliability, and regional range capabilities, BETA's products are designed to move goods and people to increase connectivity for rural areas and improve access to healthcare and e-commerce across the U.S. — and beyond.
For more information, visit www.beta.team.
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 "will", '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, relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and may also relate to Blade's future prospects, developments and business strategies. In particular, such forward-looking statements include statements concerning Blade's future financial and operating performance, results of operations, business and capital deployment strategies and plans, customer behavior, competitive position, industry environment and growth opportunities, and the development and adoption of EVA technology. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Blade's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements include: our continued incurrence of significant losses; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related effects, failure of the markets for our offerings to grow as expected, or at all; our ability to effectively market and sell air transportation as a substitute for conventional methods of transportation; the inability or unavailability to use or take advantage of the shift, or lack thereof, to EVA technology; our ability to successfully enter new markets and launch new routes and services; any adverse publicity stemming from accidents involving small aircraft, helicopters or charter flights and, in particular, any accidents involving our third-party operators; the effects of competition; harm to our reputation and brand; our ability to provide high-quality customer support; our ability to maintain a high daily aircraft usage rate; changes in consumer preferences, discretionary spending and other economic conditions; impact of natural disasters, outbreaks and pandemics, economic, social, weather, growth constraints, and regulatory conditions or other circumstances on metropolitan areas and airports where we have geographic concentration; the effects of climate change, including potential increased impacts of severe weather and regulatory activity; the availability of aircraft fuel; our ability to address system failures, defects, errors, or vulnerabilities in our website, applications, backend systems or other technology systems or those of third-party technology providers; interruptions or security breaches of our information technology systems; our placements within mobile applications; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; our use of open source software; our ability to expand and maintain our infrastructure network; our ability to access additional funding; the increase of costs and risks associated with international expansion; our ability to identify, complete and successfully integrate future acquisitions; our ability to manage our growth; increases in insurance costs or reductions in insurance coverage; the loss of key members of our management team; our ability to maintain our company culture; our reliance on contractual relationships with certain transplant centers and Organ Procurement Organizations; effects of fluctuating financial results; our reliance on third-party operators; the availability of third-party operators; disruptions to third party operators; increases in insurance costs or reductions in insurance coverage for our third-party aircraft operators; the possibility that our third-party aircraft operators may illegally, improperly or otherwise inappropriately operate our branded aircraft; our reliance on third-party web service providers; changes in our regulatory environment; regulatory obstacles in local governments; the expansion of domestic and foreign privacy and security laws; the expansion of environmental regulations; our ability to remediate any material weaknesses or maintain internal controls over financial reporting; our ability to maintain effective internal controls and disclosure controls; changes in the fair value of our warrants; and other factors beyond our control. Additional factors can be found in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, each as filed 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 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. We are unable to reconciled forward-looking non-GAAP guidance, including Flight Profit Margin, Adjusted Corporate Expenses, and Adjusted EBITDA, without unreasonable effort due to the variability and low visibility with respect to certain costs, the most significant of which are incentive compensation, transaction-related expenses, and certain value measurements, which may have unpredictable, and potentially significant, impact on future GAAP financial results.
ContactsMedia RelationsLee GoldPress@Blade.com
Investor RelationsMat SchneiderInvestors@blade.com
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The price hike also comes as Apple is rumored to lose its Friday Night Baseball package, with rights likely shifting to NBCUniversal's Peacock (CMCSA). To note, Disney's ESPN just launched its sports streaming offering today. Read more here. Apple TV+ (AAPL) is raising prices. The monthly subscription cost will increase to $12.99 in the US, up from $9.99, effective today for new subscribers, the company confirmed to Yahoo Finance. Existing subscribers will see the change 30 days after their next renewal date. The annual plan ($99.99) and Apple One bundle pricing remain unchanged. The increase will also apply to "select international markets." Apple is framing the hike around its growing library of originals, with Emmy standouts "Severance" and "The Studio" anchoring the current slate as the company leans into its positioning as an ad-free, prestige TV destination. But the move comes as Apple TV+ continues to struggle with retention. New data from Antenna released Wednesday shows Apple TV+'s monthly churn has held between 6% and 7% for much of 2025, well above the industry average of 4% to 5% and nearly triple Netflix's 2% churn rate. Even at its January peak of 2.9 million new sign-ups, cancellations spiked, underscoring how much of Apple's growth is tied to free trials and short-term promotions rather than lasting subscribers. The price hike also comes as Apple is rumored to lose its Friday Night Baseball package, with rights likely shifting to NBCUniversal's Peacock (CMCSA). To note, Disney's ESPN just launched its sports streaming offering today. Read more here. Mortgage rates hold steady at lowest level of the year Yahoo Finance's Claire Boston reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Claire Boston reports: Read more here. Dayforce stock keeps climbing following Thoma Bravo takeover news News that private equity firm Thoma Bravo plans to acquire Dayforce (DAY) and take it private has continued to lift the stock this week. Shares rose 2% on Thursday afternoon, adding to their weekly gain since the deal was announced. Over the past five days, the HR software provider's stock has climbed 28%. Thoma Bravo's $12.3 billion offer represents a 32.4% premium on the stock's closing price on Aug. 15, Reuters reported. Under the terms of the deal, Dayforce shareholders will receive $70 per share in cash, representing an equity value of $11.18 billion. Read more here. News that private equity firm Thoma Bravo plans to acquire Dayforce (DAY) and take it private has continued to lift the stock this week. Shares rose 2% on Thursday afternoon, adding to their weekly gain since the deal was announced. Over the past five days, the HR software provider's stock has climbed 28%. Thoma Bravo's $12.3 billion offer represents a 32.4% premium on the stock's closing price on Aug. 15, Reuters reported. Under the terms of the deal, Dayforce shareholders will receive $70 per share in cash, representing an equity value of $11.18 billion. Read more here. US-EU trade deal impacts on pharma industry more 'manageable' than expected Anjalee Khemlani reports: Read more here. Anjalee Khemlani reports: Read more here. Cracker Barrel stock drops 11% amid conservative backlash over logo change Cracker Barrel (CBRL) shares fell as much as 11% Thursday morning as news outlets reported on the company's decision to drop the barrel from its logo, the first big brand makeover in nearly 50 years. The move was part of a broader redesign under new CEO Julie Masino, who joined the company in 2023. The logo change drew the ire of conservatives, including President Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr. That wasn't the first time Cracker Barrel sparked conservative backlash: A legal group led by Trump aide Stephen Miller in July called for a federal investigation into the restaurant chain for its equity-related policies — part of the administration's broader attack on corporate DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Cracker Barrel (CBRL) shares fell as much as 11% Thursday morning as news outlets reported on the company's decision to drop the barrel from its logo, the first big brand makeover in nearly 50 years. The move was part of a broader redesign under new CEO Julie Masino, who joined the company in 2023. The logo change drew the ire of conservatives, including President Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr. That wasn't the first time Cracker Barrel sparked conservative backlash: A legal group led by Trump aide Stephen Miller in July called for a federal investigation into the restaurant chain for its equity-related policies — part of the administration's broader attack on corporate DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Intel stock extends losses, reversing earlier gains Intel (INTC) shares fell nearly 2% Thursday morning after sinking 7% in Wednesday's trading session. The chipmaker's declines reversed gains earlier in the week after the announcement of a $2 billion investment from SoftBank and news that the Trump administration was exploring taking a 10% stake in the company. The stock's jump came even as Wall Street voiced concerns that those votes of confidence wouldn't be enough to fix Intel's problems. Shares fell Wednesday as CNBC reported that Intel was in talks with other large investors to get an equity infusion at a discounted price. Intel stock is down nearly 8% over the past six months but up 7% from a year ago. Intel (INTC) shares fell nearly 2% Thursday morning after sinking 7% in Wednesday's trading session. The chipmaker's declines reversed gains earlier in the week after the announcement of a $2 billion investment from SoftBank and news that the Trump administration was exploring taking a 10% stake in the company. The stock's jump came even as Wall Street voiced concerns that those votes of confidence wouldn't be enough to fix Intel's problems. Shares fell Wednesday as CNBC reported that Intel was in talks with other large investors to get an equity infusion at a discounted price. Intel stock is down nearly 8% over the past six months but up 7% from a year ago. Manufacturing activity hits a more than three-year high in August US economic output hit an eight-month high in August while activity in the manufacturing sector reached its highest level in more than three years. S&P Global's flash US composite PMI survey, which captures activity in both the services and manufacturing sectors, came in at 55.4 in August, up from 55.1 in July. Increased factory activity drove the gains: The preliminary manufacturing PMI reading rose to 53.3, its highest level in 39 months. Meanwhile, the service PMI reading declined to 55.4 in August, down slightly from 55.7 and marking a two-month low for the index. 'A strong flash PMI reading for August adds to signs that US businesses have enjoyed a strong third quarter so far," S&P Global Market Intelligence chief business economist Chris Williamson said in the release. "The data are consistent with the economy expanding at a 2.5% annualized rate, up from the average 1.3% expansion seen over the first two quarters of the year." The gains didn't come without hiccups, though. Both the services and manufacturing sectors saw their second-largest monthly input price increase since January 2023. 'The resulting rise in selling prices for goods and services suggests that consumer price inflation will rise further above the Fed's 2% target in the coming months," Williamson said. US economic output hit an eight-month high in August while activity in the manufacturing sector reached its highest level in more than three years. S&P Global's flash US composite PMI survey, which captures activity in both the services and manufacturing sectors, came in at 55.4 in August, up from 55.1 in July. Increased factory activity drove the gains: The preliminary manufacturing PMI reading rose to 53.3, its highest level in 39 months. Meanwhile, the service PMI reading declined to 55.4 in August, down slightly from 55.7 and marking a two-month low for the index. 'A strong flash PMI reading for August adds to signs that US businesses have enjoyed a strong third quarter so far," S&P Global Market Intelligence chief business economist Chris Williamson said in the release. "The data are consistent with the economy expanding at a 2.5% annualized rate, up from the average 1.3% expansion seen over the first two quarters of the year." The gains didn't come without hiccups, though. Both the services and manufacturing sectors saw their second-largest monthly input price increase since January 2023. 'The resulting rise in selling prices for goods and services suggests that consumer price inflation will rise further above the Fed's 2% target in the coming months," Williamson said. The Dow leads stocks down at the open US stocks fell on Thursday after Walmart (WMT) earnings came in below expectations and weekly jobless claims came in higher than expected to hit the highest level since June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) dropped nearly 0.6%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) moved down more than 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also backed off about 0.4%. US stocks fell on Thursday after Walmart (WMT) earnings came in below expectations and weekly jobless claims came in higher than expected to hit the highest level since June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) dropped nearly 0.6%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) moved down more than 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also backed off about 0.4%. US weekly jobless claims rise to highest since June Americans filing claims for jobless benefits rose to 235,000 for the week of Aug. 15, the largest increase since late May. Economists expected 225,000 jobless claims to be filed. Meanwhile, continuing claims jumped to 1.97 million, greater than the 1.96 million anticipated, in a sign that Americans without jobs are finding it difficult to get a new one. Read more here. Americans filing claims for jobless benefits rose to 235,000 for the week of Aug. 15, the largest increase since late May. Economists expected 225,000 jobless claims to be filed. Meanwhile, continuing claims jumped to 1.97 million, greater than the 1.96 million anticipated, in a sign that Americans without jobs are finding it difficult to get a new one. Read more here. Boeing stock rises on potential sale of 500 jets to China Boeing (BA) stock rose 1.5% in premarket trading after Bloomberg reported the company is in talks to sell up to 500 jets to China. The potential sale would mark China's largest purchase of Boeing aircraft since President Trump's visit to the country in 2017. But it's contingent on trade tensions between the US and China abating. Earlier this year, Boeing was caught in the center of the trade war between the US and China. In April, China banned deliveries of the company's planes during the height of tariff escalation but removed the ban in May. Read more here. Boeing (BA) stock rose 1.5% in premarket trading after Bloomberg reported the company is in talks to sell up to 500 jets to China. The potential sale would mark China's largest purchase of Boeing aircraft since President Trump's visit to the country in 2017. But it's contingent on trade tensions between the US and China abating. Earlier this year, Boeing was caught in the center of the trade war between the US and China. In April, China banned deliveries of the company's planes during the height of tariff escalation but removed the ban in May. Read more here. Disney's new ESPN streaming service has arrived, ushering in new era for sports and the cable bundle Yahoo Finance's Allie Canal reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Allie Canal reports: Read more here. The tech trade hits pause ahead of Nvidia earnings Tech stocks remain on shaky ground after concerns about the AI trade caused them to slip again on Wednesday. And while the tech pullback wasn't anywhere close to a DeepSeek moment, Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban writes, Wall Street did seem alarmed by a handful of pessimistic headlines. Hamza explains the Street's discontent with tech in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Tech stocks remain on shaky ground after concerns about the AI trade caused them to slip again on Wednesday. And while the tech pullback wasn't anywhere close to a DeepSeek moment, Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban writes, Wall Street did seem alarmed by a handful of pessimistic headlines. Hamza explains the Street's discontent with tech in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Walmart stock falls after earnings miss forecasts as US sales, 2025 outlook rise Walmart (WMT) stock slid after the big-box retailer's Q2 earnings fell shy of Wall Street's expectations, even after its US sales growth beat forecasts as shoppers embraced its low prices. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Walmart (WMT) stock slid after the big-box retailer's Q2 earnings fell shy of Wall Street's expectations, even after its US sales growth beat forecasts as shoppers embraced its low prices. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week of Aug. 16); S&P Global US manufacturing PMI (August preliminary) S&P Global US services PMI; Existing home sales (July) Earnings: Walmart (WMT), Intuit (INTU), Workday (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST), Zoom (ZM) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Walmart shares slip after earnings miss the mark Disney's era-ending ESPN sports streaming has arrived Fed governor Cook responds after Trump says she 'must resign' The tech trade has a wobble ahead of Nvidia earnings Short sellers reap over $5 billion as AI fears roil market El-Erian: Powell is walking a tightrope at Jackson Hole Goldman: It's time to buy the dip in momentum stocks Meta freezes AI hiring as Wall Street eyes the cost Musk must face fraud lawsuit over 2024 election sweepstakes Tencent's 'Valorant' tops iPhone chart with $1 million debut Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week of Aug. 16); S&P Global US manufacturing PMI (August preliminary) S&P Global US services PMI; Existing home sales (July) Earnings: Walmart (WMT), Intuit (INTU), Workday (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST), Zoom (ZM) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Walmart shares slip after earnings miss the mark Disney's era-ending ESPN sports streaming has arrived Fed governor Cook responds after Trump says she 'must resign' The tech trade has a wobble ahead of Nvidia earnings Short sellers reap over $5 billion as AI fears roil market El-Erian: Powell is walking a tightrope at Jackson Hole Goldman: It's time to buy the dip in momentum stocks Meta freezes AI hiring as Wall Street eyes the cost Musk must face fraud lawsuit over 2024 election sweepstakes Tencent's 'Valorant' tops iPhone chart with $1 million debut Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
