Robert S. Wiesenthal

Robert S. Wiesenthal (born June 22, 1967) is an American businessman.

Until June 2012, Wiesenthal was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sony Corporation of America, executive vice president, chief strategy officer, Sony Entertainment Inc., and group executive, Sony Corporation, leading corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions. From 2012 to June 2015, he was chief operating officer of Warner Music Group. The model relies on using regular aircraft with the eventual aim of moving towards Electric Vertical Aircraft (“EVA” or "EVTOL") in the future.According to those supporting EVA technology, EVA technology aircraft are meant to be quieter and more fuel-efficient compared to regular aircraft.

Blade's first Short Distance route was launched in 2014, offering passenger service between Manhattan, Southampton, East Hampton, and Montauk. In March 2019, Blade launched BLADE Airport, which offers continuous service for passengers traveling between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport. BLADE Airport service was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, but was relaunched in June 2021 for passengers traveling between Manhattan and JFK Airport. In November 2021, Blade launched an additional BLADE Airport route for passengers traveling between Manhattan and Newark Liberty International Airport.

The company's Blade airport transfers enabled Blade to become the largest arranger of helicopter flights between Manhattan and all New York area airports. Single seats on daily flights from Manhattan to area airports start at $195. This service reduces travel time in comparison to driving. Blade's alliance with American Airlines allows passengers flying American between JFK and LAX to deplane directly from the jetway on to the tarmac, where they are transferred by car to an awaiting helicopter for a short trip to the city center, bypassing commercial airline terminals.

On May 10, 2021, Blade became the first publicly traded urban air mobility company. In listing the company it changed its name from Blade Urban Air Mobility to Blade Air Mobility. The stock offering was handled through the merger of Experience Investment Corp. (sponsored by KSL Capital Partners) with BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc. The new company became BLADE Air Mobility. BLADE Urban Air became a wholly owned subsidiary.

In September 2021, Blade announced the acquisition of Trinity Air Medical, a nationwide organ logistics and transportation company, for an upfront purchase price of $23 million. Trinity's end-to-end services integrate air missions with ground transport.

In December 2021, Blade entered the Vancouver market with the acquisition of the exclusive rights to Helijet's scheduled passenger business, for which Blade paid approximately $12 million. At the time of the acquisition, Helijet was operating at an annualized revenue run-rate that was about 50% of its pre-COVID-19 level of US$15 million.

In May 2022, Blade announced it would acquire the asset-light commercial passenger transport activities of three European urban air mobility operators - Monacair SAM, Héli Sécurité, and Azur Hélicoptère.

In June 2022, Blade announced a partnership with JetBlue in which JetBlue's Mosaic+ members would receive complimentary seats on Blade Airport helicopter transfers when connecting to or from JetBlue flights at JFK or EWR.

Blade conducted a test flight of an EVTOL aircraft at Westchester County Airport on February 14, 2023, marking the first time that such a piloted aircraft was tested in the tri-state area.

Achievements Crain's New York Business named him on its “40 Under 40” list in 2003.