Archer Aviation, manufacturer of the Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, has released a map of its planned New York "air taxi network" in partnership with United Airlines, the company announced Thursday.
United and Archer in November 2022 announced their first commercial air taxi route, between Newark Liberty International Airport and what was then called the Manhattan heliport, now known as the Downtown Skyport. But Archer's planned network map for the region since has grown considerably.
In addition to the Downtown Skyport, Archer plans to operate at the East 34th Street and West 30th Street heliports. The map now includes LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Westchester Country Airport, New Jersey's Teterboro Airport and Long Island's Republic Airport, in addition to Newark.
Archer is working with its existing infrastructure partners, including Atlantic Aviation, Signature Aviation and Skyports/GroupeADP, as well as new partners Modern Aviation and Air Pegasus to develop and electrify aviation assets in this proposed network, according to the company.
When asked about the expanded coverage—including JFK, an airport United does not currently operate from—an Archer spokesperson said that the map represents Archer's planned services, and that United would be partnered "on some routes."
"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 head of United Airlines Ventures, Andrew Chang, said in a statement.
Archer is awaiting U.S. Federal Aviation Administration type certification for its Midnight aircraft. It received its FAA Part 135 air carrier and operator certificate in June 2024. Once the type certification is approved, routes gradually will go into service.
Passengers would book these flights as "complements" to traditional flights, according to Archer. The company does not yet have schedules or frequencies on routes. As for fares, Archer intends the flights to be "cost-competitive with ground transportation."
The Midnight aircraft can accommodate four passengers plus a pilot, with flights taking between five and 15 minutes within the network, according to Archer.