Archer Aviation unveiled plans for a new air taxi network in partnership with United Airlines that will allow customers to travel between Manhattan and several airports to avoid commutes.
The proposed taxi network would “transform how New York residents and visitors move around the region,” enabling passengers to replace one-hour or two-hour drive times with journeys between five and fifteen minutes, according to a recent press release from Archer Aviation.
“The New York region is home to three of the world’s preeminent airports, serving upwards of 150 million passengers annually. But the drive from Manhattan to any of these airports can be painful, taking one, sometimes two hours,” Archer Airlines chief executive Adam Goldstein said in the press release. “With its existing helicopter infrastructure, regulatory support, and strong demand, I believe New York could be one of the first markets for air taxis in the United States.”
The electric air taxi, which can carry as many as four passengers, would produce less noise than a helicopter. Archer Aviation is building Midnight aircraft, which have twelve total engines and propellers to create redundancy, at manufacturing facilities in California and Georgia.
“Our focus is on driving innovation, reimagining the future of air travel, and enhancing the customer experience every step of the journey,” United Airlines Ventures head Andrew Chang added in the statement. “Our strategic collaboration with Archer will be key to our efforts to build and optimize the infrastructure, such as real estate development, air space management, and safety and security protocols, necessary to bring advanced air mobility to our customers.”
The passengers who use the air taxi service could book a Midnight plane as a complement to traditional airline travel, decreasing the amount of time spent traveling from door to door.
Archer Aviation is pursuing a new certification with regulators for their aircraft, receiving an air carrier and operator certificate last summer. United Airlines previously ordered a fleet of Midnight aircraft and has invested in the company amid the efforts to start air taxi networks.
