Archer Aviation and United Airlines have presented a proposal for an upcoming air taxi network in New York City.
The plan would see electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operating between Manhattan and regional airports, including Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia, with journey times expected to range from five to fifteen minutes.
Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry four passengers plus a pilot. It produces less noise and emissions than traditional helicopters and includes multiple safety features such as 12 engines and propellers arranged for redundancy.
The aircraft is currently undergoing certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with Archer having already obtained its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate in June 2024.
The proposed service would operate from vertiports located at existing aviation sites, including airport terminals and helipads in Manhattan. These flights will complement existing airline services by reducing overall door-to-door travel time for passengers.
Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer said: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. We want to change that by giving residents and visitors the option to complete trips in mere minutes. 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.
Archer is working with several infrastructure partners to develop and electrify the necessary facilities, including Atlantic Aviation, Signature Aviation, Skyports/Groupe ADP, Modern Aviation, and Air Pegasus. The company is also engaging with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York City Economic Development Corporation as part of the wider air mobility integration effort.
United Airlines has previously placed an order for Midnight aircraft and remains an investor in Archer. The airline sees the partnership as part of a broader effort to enhance the passenger experience and develop infrastructure for advanced air mobility.
Andrew Chang, Head of United Airlines Ventures said:At United, our focus is on driving innovation, reimagining the future of air travel and enhancing the customer experience every step of the journey. Our strategic collaboration with Archer will be key to our efforts to build and optimise 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 proposed New York network follows earlier announcements of planned air taxi services in San Francisco and Los Angeles. If regulatory approvals are secured, the New York service could become one of the initial launch markets for this type of urban air mobility in the United States.
