• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Uber Technologies

You Can Soon Book a Hot Air Balloon Through Uber

By Jasper Scherer
June 28, 2016, 1:00 PM ET
Saga Balloon Festival
Photograph by Kiyoshi Ota — Getty Images

Uber users in China will soon be able to travel by car, boat, or even hot air balloon.

The moves come as part of the company’s new Uber+Travel venture, announced Monday by Uber China’s vice president of operations Kate Wang. Speaking at TechCrunch Shanghai, Wang also introduced a new digital magazine service called UberLIFE, which connects passengers to local events.

“This reminds us that Uber is a global service serving global citizens,” she said. “It is rooted in each of the cities.”

Uber found its users stay in its app for 90 seconds once they get in a car, according to TechCrunch. The new features let Uber take advantage of customers’ attention, and they fit into the company’s plan to grow beyond ride hailing.

Other new initiatives have included UberEATS, an on-demand food delivery service that recently expanded to London.

 

Hot air balloons aren’t Uber’s first foray into creative forms of transportation. The company flies UberCHOPPER customers to the annual Coachella music festival in helicopters and recently brought back UberJET after a two-year hiatus. It’s also building driverless cars.

For now Uber+Travel and UberLIFE, which will be rolled out at some point this year, are only available in China.


Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Middle EastIran
As Trump eyes climactic battle for Hormuz, he could give Iran a ‘taste of their own medicine’ with a naval blockade that implodes the economy
By Jason MaMarch 22, 2026
18 minutes ago
PoliticsICE
Trump’s border czar says ICE agents could guard exits and check IDs at airport screening areas as long lines plague travelers
By Seung Min Kim and The Associated PressMarch 22, 2026
3 hours ago
Energynatural gas
Natural gas prices in Texas plunge deep into negative territory and producers are burning it off, while the rest of the world braces for shortages
By Jason MaMarch 22, 2026
3 hours ago
Kevinn O'Leary showing off his watches
SuccessShark Tank
Kevin O’Leary became a millionaire from a $4.2 billion deal—but said it was ‘very anticlimactic’
By Sydney LakeMarch 22, 2026
4 hours ago
SuccessThe Interview Playbook
Boss uses a recruiter-approved coffee cup test in every interview—and he won’t hire anyone who fails it
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMarch 22, 2026
4 hours ago
Warren Buffett
SuccessBillionaires
Warren Buffett admits his original philanthropic  plans were not ‘feasible’—he’s instead left his three kids $500 million a year to give away
By Preston ForeMarch 22, 2026
4 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.