Archer Aviation has announced plans to establish an electric air taxi network in New York City through a partnership with United Airlines.
The proposal includes direct links between Manhattan and the region’s three major airports—Newark Liberty (EWR), John F. Kennedy (JFK), and LaGuardia (LGA)—with the aim of significantly reducing travel times for airline passengers.
The service would use Archer’s Midnight aircraft, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle designed to carry four passengers and a pilot. Flights between Manhattan and the airports are expected to take between five and fifteen minutes, offering an alternative to the often congested road routes, which can take an hour or more depending on traffic.
The proposed air taxi network is designed to complement existing airline services by shortening door-to-door journey times, especially for time-sensitive airport transfers.
Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer said:The New York region is home to three of the world’s preeminent airports, serving upwards of 150 million passengers annually. 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 United States.
Archer plans to operate the service from existing airport terminals and helipads within New York City. The company is working with several infrastructure partners—such as Signature Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, Skyports/Groupe ADP, Modern Aviation, and Air Pegasus—to prepare and electrify these locations for use as vertiports.
It is is also engaging with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York City Economic Development Corporation as part of the wider air mobility integration effort.
PANYNJ Executive Director Rick Cotton said:The Port Authority is excited to help explore the possibility of a new wave of air mobility in the New York and New Jersey region. We look forward to continued collaboration with Archer and other OEMs, operators and partners across the ecosystem to responsibly explore how this new technology can be safely integrated into the region’s broader transportation network and ensure our airports are ready to support safe and efficient operations.
The Midnight aircraft is being developed with a focus on lower noise and emissions compared to traditional helicopters, and includes built-in redundancies across its 12 motors and propellers. The aircraft is currently progressing through the FAA’s certification process. Archer received its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate in June 2024 and is working toward full Type Certification.
Andrew Chang, Head of United Airlines Ventures said:At United, our focus is on driving innovation, reimagining the future of air travel and enhancing the customer experience every step of the journey. 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.
