Archer is proposing a New York City air taxi network, following its announcement last year of similar plans for San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In partnership with United Airlines - an investor in the company - Archer says it aims to enable passengers to travel by air from Manhattan to nearby airports in between five minutes and 15 minutes (e.g. from downtown to Newark in "less than 10 minutes") using its Midnight craft.
Midnight is Archer’s piloted electric air taxi designed to carry up to four passengers; the firm says it produces less noise and fewer emissions than a traditional helicopter.
Archer plans to use existing "aviation properties around the region" and wants to establish vertiports associated with airports and helipads in the area:
● Major Airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Airport
● NYC Helipads: East 34th Street Heliport, Downtown Skyport, West 30th Street Heliport
● Regional Airports: Westchester County Airport, Teterboro Airport, Republic Airport
The idea is that passengers would book Archer flights as a complement to their airline travel, reducing door-to-door travel times.
“The New York region is home to three of the world’s preeminent airports, serving upwards of 150 million passengers annually," says Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer.
"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 US.”
Archer is working with infrastructure partners, including Atlantic Aviation, Signature Aviation, Skyports/GroupeADP, Modern Aviation and Air Pegasus to develop and electrify aviation assets in this proposed network.
Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures, says: “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.”
