UAE Air Taxis: Archer Aviation, Abu Dhabi Investment Office to Launch Electric Aircraft Services in 2025

8 months ago Editor

Framework Agreement Sets Stage for Full-Scale Air Taxi Operations with Archer’s Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircraft

image source: Archer Aviation

The launch of full-scale air taxi services in the UAE is inching closer to reality with a new framework agreement forged between Archer Aviation and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). This agreement will pave the way for Archer, a pioneer in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to undertake in-country manufacturing, launch operations, and training required before the services take flight.

According to Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer Aviation, the plan is to have these services operational “as soon as next year.” Archer has partnered with Falcon Aviation and Air Chateau to serve as in-market air taxi operators. These early operations will utilize a handful of aircraft, with the number scaling up as manufacturing ramps up.

Under the framework agreement, ADIO will collaborate with Archer and other air taxi operators to develop vertiports in various locations throughout Abu Dhabi. This collaboration aims to enhance the urban air mobility infrastructure necessary for Archer to scale its operations effectively.

Badr Al-Olama, Director-General of ADIO, expressed Abu Dhabi’s commitment to accelerating the launch of electric air taxis globally. He stated, “Abu Dhabi is leading the way in accelerating the launch of electric air taxis globally. We are excited to support Archer toward establishing its international headquarters in Abu Dhabi.”

Archer’s Midnight aircraft, capable of accommodating four passengers and a pilot, is undergoing regular flights at its flight test facility in California. The company is on track to complete the first piloted, conforming eVTOL aircraft in the industry later this year.

While specific fare details for routes like Abu Dhabi-Dubai are yet to be determined, Goldstein noted that the projected operating economics support pricing per passenger mile comparable to that of an “Uber Black Car,” with costs expected to decrease as operations scale.

Archer Aviation aims to replace 60- to 90-minute car commutes with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights, characterized by safety, sustainability, low noise, and cost-competitiveness with ground transportation. With support from early investors, including UAE’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, and partner operators like Falcon Aviation and Air Chateau, Archer is poised to revolutionize urban air mobility in the region.