Archer Aviation, a U.S. Air Taxi Developer,
Reveals New York Air Taxi Network Plan
All-Electric Air Taxi 'Midnight' Set to Launch
One to Two Hour Car Journeys Reduced to 5-15 Minutes
The launch of 'flying taxis' in the United States is now imminent.
On April 17 (local time), U.S. air taxi developer Archer Aviation announced on its official website that it had unveiled a 'New York Air Taxi Network Plan' in cooperation with United Airlines, which includes routes connecting Manhattan in New York with nearby airports.
Archer and United Airlines plan to utilize existing helicopter takeoff and landing pads, or 'helipads', located at airports and urban buildings to establish an air taxi network.
The goal is to connect downtown Manhattan with nearby airports such as John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). With this service, journeys that currently take one to two hours by car could be reduced to just five to fifteen minutes.
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, stated in a post on the company's website, "There are three world-class airports and several regional airports near New York, serving more than 150 million passengers annually," adding, "Air taxis will greatly improve mobility for these travelers."
The service will utilize Archer's self-developed all-electric air taxi, 'Midnight'. Midnight can carry one pilot and four passengers, and is characterized by enhanced safety and lower noise compared to conventional helicopters.
Powered entirely by electric batteries, Midnight can fly up to 160 kilometers, with a maximum speed of approximately 241 km/h. It has been developed to combine the advantages of helicopters and airplanes, enabling vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter and forward flight like an airplane.
United Airlines passengers will be able to book this service in addition to their existing flights. However, the price for the air taxi service has not yet been determined. Currently, a one-way helicopter flight from Manhattan to JFK Airport costs an average of $265 per seat (approximately 377,500 KRW).
Archer is preparing for relevant certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and has already obtained some flight operation and maintenance certifications. While the specific launch date for the air taxi service has not been disclosed, Archer previously announced plans to launch commercial air taxi services at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In addition to Archer, competitors such as Joby Aviation are also preparing to launch air taxi services. In the case of Joby, the company completed test flights in November 2023 and is aiming for commercialization this year.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
