eVTOL Maker Buys LA Airport to Use as Electric Air-Taxi Hub
- Editor OGN Daily
- 38 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Archer says it's acquiring an airport in Los Angeles from which its futuristic vehicles will launch and land.
If you needed any more proof that the near future included flying around in an eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing), you need look no further than this announcement from Archer, says NewAtlas. The maker of the sleek and capable Midnight eVTOL says that it has purchased Hawthorne Municipal Airport in the heart of LA for US$126 million.
That follows on from an announcement earlier this year that the company is to be Official Air Taxi provider for the Olympic and Paralympic games to be held in the city in 2028, so this new base makes lots of sense. Archer's acquisition of the airport in the LA market fits with its mission to provide air taxi service in some of America's most crowded cities. It's also eyeing up New York and San Francisco. Such a service in NYC could ferry customers between Manhattan and nearby international airports in just 5 to 15 minutes, slashing hours off commute times. The service may even be offered free to premium flyers. Across the pond, rival eVTOL maker - Joby - a similar air-taxi service in London with Virgin.
One of the partners that has invested heavily in Archer is United Airlines, which has not only inked agreements to purchase eVTOLs from the company, but has also invested cash in the company's future.
Indeed, Archer has also revealed that it raised $650 million in new funding, bringing its total liquidity to over $2 billion, whilst also saying that the Midnight aircraft, which can hold four passengers and a pilot, has hit some important milestones in its progress towards becoming a fully operational mode of transport.
