News

Vertical Mag • Elan Head

Blade goes public-market-ready for urban air mobility: CEO-backed $850M valuation and expanded Manhattan–JFK helicopter service

Blade, the “Uber of helicopters,” is taking electric vertical aircrafts to the public markets at an initial valuation of about $850 million, per CEO Robert Wiesenthal. The company also broadened its on-demand helicopter offering with all-day rides from Manhattan to JFK, positioning it as a near-term UAM player while it expands beyond helicopter shuttles.

2026-04-29T09:04:38.231055-07:00

CNBC

Fly Blade JV to launch on-demand helicopter flights in India—Mumbai–Pune and Shirdi beginning March 2019

2026-04-29T09:05:15.328367-07:00

ch-aviation

TransMedics to invest in PAD Aviation (Paderborn/Lippstadt) to build an organ transplant air-and-ground logistics network across

2026-04-29T14:25:59.511028-07:00

FlightGlobal

Ascend Airways to surrender UK AOC and return six Boeing 737 MAX 8s to lessors, signaling UK exit

2026-04-28T01:20:22.440676-07:00

News Timeline

ch-aviation

TransMedics to invest in PAD Aviation (Paderborn/Lippstadt) to build an organ transplant air-and-ground logistics network across US medical technology firm TransMedics has signed a definitive agreement to invest in Germany-based private aviation operator PAD Aviation (PVD, Paderborn/Lippstadt). The funding supports a dedicated organ transplant air-and-ground logistics network across Europe, linking air transport with ground distribution for time-critical medical cargo flows.

2026-04-29T14:25:59.511028-07:00

TransMedics to invest in PAD Aviation (Paderborn/Lippstadt) to build an organ transplant air-and-ground logistics network across

CNBC

❗️

Fly Blade JV to launch on-demand helicopter flights in India—Mumbai–Pune and Shirdi beginning March 2019 Fly Blade Inc., positioning itself as an “Uber of helicopters,” says it will start India operations in March 2019 via a joint venture with Hunch Ventures. The initial service will operate intercity routes between Mumbai and Pune, with Shirdi added as the operation ramps, starting from intracity operations.

2026-04-29T09:05:15.328367-07:00

Fly Blade JV to launch on-demand helicopter flights in India—Mumbai–Pune and Shirdi beginning March 2019

Vertical Mag

❗️

Blade goes public-market-ready for urban air mobility: CEO-backed $850M valuation and expanded Manhattan–JFK helicopter service Blade, the “Uber of helicopters,” is taking electric vertical aircrafts to the public markets at an initial valuation of about $850 million, per CEO Robert Wiesenthal. The company also broadened its on-demand helicopter offering with all-day rides from Manhattan to JFK, positioning it as a near-term UAM player while it expands beyond helicopter shuttles.

2026-04-29T09:04:38.231055-07:00

Blade goes public-market-ready for urban air mobility: CEO-backed $850M valuation and expanded Manhattan–JFK helicopter service

New York Times

United CEO acknowledges it pitched an American merger idea; American was unwilling, leaving US combination talks effectively sta United’s chief said for the first time that he raised the idea of a merger with American—an approach American was unwilling to consider. The admission underscores how far the carrier-to-carrier discussion progressed (and why it didn’t), amid the same antitrust and political scrutiny weighing on US consolidation.

2026-04-28T18:38:17.758242-07:00

United CEO acknowledges it pitched an American merger idea; American was unwilling, leaving US combination talks effectively sta

Space Intel Report

Airbus and Thales’ space units post Q1 growth ahead of planned merger; satellite telecom stress appears easing Airbus and Thales Group’s space divisions reported higher revenue for the three months ending 31 March, supporting momentum toward a proposed combination with Leonardo to form a major European space prime. The companies also pointed to satellite telecom crises as largely resolved.

2026-04-28T12:57:22.539054-07:00

Airbus and Thales’ space units post Q1 growth ahead of planned merger; satellite telecom stress appears easing

ch-aviation

JetBlue activist pressure rises as second-largest shareholder seeks board seat A second-largest shareholder at JetBlue is seeking a seat on the airline’s board, signaling renewed pressure on governance and corporate direction. The move adds to an already active strategic backdrop for JetBlue, as markets watch how board composition could shape next steps.

2026-04-28T10:50:27.764932-07:00

JetBlue activist pressure rises as second-largest shareholder seeks board seat

Bloomberg

Finnair resists Nordic airline consolidation as state leverage pushes more traffic into Copenhagen Despite a crowded European market and growing parent-group concentration, Finland’s flag carrier remains structurally “set apart” while Sweden’s loss of control over its airline has redirected connectivity flows across the Baltic. The ripple effect: more Stockholm demand routing via Copenhagen—reshaping competitive positioning in the region.

2026-04-28T03:49:40.510609-07:00

Finnair resists Nordic airline consolidation as state leverage pushes more traffic into Copenhagen

ch-aviation

Privatisation of Iran's Kish Air delayed

2026-04-28T01:50:52.370633-07:00

Privatisation of Iran's Kish A

Menu

M&A News

Blade goes public-market-ready for urban air mobility: CEO-backed $850M valuation and expanded Manhattan–JFK helicopter service

Fly Blade JV to launch on-demand helicopter flights in India—Mumbai–Pune and Shirdi beginning March 2019

TransMedics to invest in PAD Aviation (Paderborn/Lippstadt) to build an organ transplant air-and-ground logistics network across

Ascend Airways to surrender UK AOC and return six Boeing 737 MAX 8s to lessors, signaling UK exit

News Timeline