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Archer has unveiled plans to build an air taxi network connecting regional airports in the New York City area with Manhattan.
The announcement, in partnership with United Airlines, comes weeks after the Santa Clara-based aerospace company unveiled proposed routes around San Francisco and solidified its plans in California. The network will connect New York City to various points across the Tri-State Area.
The purpose of these electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will be to transport passengers between airports and key locations in up to 15 minutes, skipping long New York commutes entirely.
Archer Aims at the Big Apple
Archer Aviation last week unveiled plans to build a new air taxi network around New York City. With this network, passengers can book air taxi flights as an alternative to driving between two key points in or around the Big Apple.
Using Archer’s flagship aircraft, Midnight, passengers will fly right over New York’s notorious traffic and reach their destination in as little as 5-15 minutes.
Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer, stated that New York’s major airports serve over 150 million passengers yearly, but ground travel from Manhattan can take up to two hours. Archer aims to offer air taxi services, leveraging New York’s helicopter infrastructure and regulatory support, to reduce travel time to minutes, potentially making it one of the first U.S. markets for air taxis.
According to Archer’s plans, the company envisions three vertiports within the New York air taxi ecosystem. These ports would allow travelers to fly to or from one of many airports in the area, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, or even Westchester County Airport (HPN), which is further away from the metro area.
United Airlines and Southwest Airlines will also be involved in this proposed network. United will at least operate Midnight aircraft, so the plan will likely offer eVTOL flights and commercial flights to the Tri-State Area.
Will New York City be the First?
Archer Aviation CEO and Founder Adam Goldstein commented about the possibility of a New York air taxi network during a press release:
‘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.’
Head of United Airlines Ventures Andrew Chang also commented on the chance to build another vertiport network with Archer:
‘Our strategic collaboration with Archer will be key to our efforts to build and optimize 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 Port Authority has also confirmed that it will work with Archer and United on the New York air taxi network, and personnel seems very excited about the idea.
‘We look forward to partnering with Archer and other leading eVTOL companies to propel this industry forward, facilitating the transition to eVTOLs and last-mile Blue Highways delivery – cleaning up our skies, unclogging our roadways, and improving the lives of New Yorkers in the process,’ said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball.
About Midnight
Midnight’s cabin is thoughtfully designed to enhance comfort, accommodating a pilot and four passengers with their carry-on bags. A fusion of industrial design and aerospace innovation, it achieves speeds of up to 150 MPH, slashing lengthy ground commutes to brief flights. Equipped with six separate, custom-built battery packs, each powering two specialized electric engines, its battery system supports quick recharges between trips.
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