The Californian company Archer Aviation has just appointed Talib Alhinai as its Director for the United Arab Emirates. This appointment confirms the imminent launch of air taxis in the Emirates. In fact, Archer Aviation believes that its customers could start operations at the end of 2025.
The presence of Talib Alhinai in this new position should open the doors of the Emirates wide for the American company. Talib Alhinai was previously Director of Strategy in the Executive Office ofAbu Dhabia supervisory body reporting to the Executive Council under the command of the Crown Prince, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed.
Archer Aviation recently gave details of its future air taxi business to local newspaper The National. According to the paper, Archer's commercial air taxi business is expected to take shape before the end of 2025.
Archer is nevertheless awaiting licence certification from the US authorities for its eVTOL aircraft. The aircraft, named Midnight, can carry up to four passengers, plus the pilot, and can travel up to 160 km at a maximum speed of 241 km/h.. The company should then receive the go-ahead from the GCAA, the US civil aviation authority.
As for prices, they range from 300 to 500 Dirhams (€78 to €91) for travel to Abu Dhabi. For connections from Abu Dhabi to Dubai or to another emirate (Sharjah or Ras-al-Khaimah, for example), prices would turn between 800 and 1500 Dirham (€208 to €389).
