United Airlines and Archer unveil future air taxi network in Manhattan

It's a dream come true for every business traveller: reach the heart of Manhattan in 5 to 15 minutes after leaving one of New York's two intercontinental airports, Newark or JFK. A journey without the almost inevitable traffic jams. It's a dream that Archer and its partner United Airlines have set out to realise.

Archer is known in the United States for its development of a small aircraft with a revolutionary design. It could also be used for airports, heliports and vertiports - allowing vertical landings like helicopters. But unlike helicopters, the Midnight by Archer would offer a level of comfort similar to that of an aeroplane. With its cabin topped by twelve propeller engines powered by electricity, the Midnight can cover a distance of between 32 and 80 km. With a transport capacity of 4 passengers.

A cooperation agreement has been in place since 2021 with United Airlines for the development and operation of Midnight aircraft. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already granted Archer an air carrier and operator licence in June 2024. The company must now obtain FAA certification for its Midnight aircraft.

The emergence of a network of stopovers in New York

Once type certification has been obtained, Archer and its operational partners plan to integrate Midnight safely and seamlessly, starting with the major airports in the New York region.

Archer's plan for a network of taxi planes in New York includes nine stopovers. It includes the three New York airports (JFK, LaGuardia and Newark), three regional airports (Republic, Teterboro and Westchester County) and three heliports/vertiports in the centre of Manhattan (Downtown Skyport, W30th st. and E34th st.).

As part of this cooperation with United, passengers would book Archer flights in addition to their traditional flights.

For Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer, " the New York region with more than 150 million passengers a year could be one of the first markets for air taxis in the United States" .

Nevertheless securing the skies over New York by establishing precise trajectories free of other air movements and to carefully calculate the noise impact, which is minimal compared with a helicopter or even some land vehicles.

" New York City is opening an exciting new chapter in safe, quiet and sustainable air travel, by pioneering the integration of eVTOL aircraft into our skies. "said Andrew KimballCEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). " The delivery of the Blue Highways will enable us to clear our skies, relieve congestion on our roads and improve the lives of New Yorkers." he added.

Archer is also working on the creation of air taxi networks in San Francisco and Los Angeles.