Air taxi start-up Archer Aviation has unveiled plans for a New York network connecting Manhattan and nearby airports. The partnership with United Airlines, could see travellers able to avoid traffic and reduce emissions and noise, while commuting between Manhattan and the region’s airports in between five and 15 minutes, instead of up to two hours, thanks to Archer’s four-passenger electric vertical take-off and landing craft (eVTOL), Midnight.
Meet Midnight: the high-speed eVTOL
Manufactured in San Jose, California and Covington, Georgia, the Midnight is a piloted 12-propeller craft designed for fast-turnaround flights with minimal charge time. It can reach speeds of up to 240 km/h and has a maximum range of 161 km. It flew over 100 test flights in 2024.
The announcement comes at a time when a series of aviation accidents mean the safety of helicopter routes around major cities is under scrutiny. Operations would require the development of vertiports at existing aviation hubs around the region, including both airports and NYC helipads. Once it has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Midnight is expected to come into service, “beginning with major airports like those in the New York City area,” Archer said in a press release.
Targeting premium travellers first
Although Fox Business has reported the service will initially be aimed at first-class and business flyers, 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.”
With previous air taxi networks already announced for Los Angeles and San Francisco, the concept involves booking Archer flights “as a complement to traditional airline travel, reducing door-to-door travel times. United previously placed an order for a fleet of Archer’s Midnight aircraft and has remained a long-time investor in the company,” Archer points out.
Strategic collaboration driving New York’s air mobility future
United has described its “strategic collaboration with Archer” as “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.”
Meanwhile New York’s Port Authority has said it is “excited to help explore the possibility of a new wave of air mobility in the New York and New Jersey region,” according to PANYNJ Executive Director Rick Cotton. It is looking 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.”
Hailed as “a new chapter of safe, quiet, and sustainable air transportation” by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball, the innovation is intended to be part of “cleaning up our skies, unclogging our roadways, and improving the lives of New Yorkers in the process.”
