In Los Angeles, one of the world's most congested megacities, flying taxis are being prepared for implementation, which are planned to be integrated into the existing transport system. The American company Archer Aviation, in collaboration with AEG, a company specializing in sports and entertainment, is developing a project to build vertiports in the L.A. LIVE area in downtown Los Angeles. A vertiport is a special platform that allows electric air taxis to take off and land vertically, similar to a helicopter.
Archer Aviation has been selected as the official air taxi provider for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Considering that millions of people will arrive in Los Angeles in 2028, the city's main task will be the prompt delivery of passengers. Flying taxis can offer a new option to avoid hours of delay in traffic jams.
The air taxi developed by Archer Aviation is called Midnight. It is not a small flying machine, as often shown in movies, but an electric eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. Simply put, it can ascend straight up like a helicopter, but when moving forward, it flies like an airplane.
The aircraft is designed to accommodate four passengers and a pilot. The company states that the goal of Midnight is to provide fast and short trips within the city. According to Archer's forecasts, they aim to reduce travel times that can take an hour or more on the roads to 10–20 minutes.
For residents of cities like Los Angeles, where spending one and a half to two hours to cover a distance of 20 kilometers is common, the solution proposed by aviation companies is to use airspace instead of overloaded roads.
When flying taxis are mentioned, the question of service accessibility for the general public often arises. Archer Aviation has long aimed for the cost of air taxi services to match a premium level initially, with the price decreasing after expanding operations. According to the company's former business model, they planned to bring the cost per passenger per mile closer to the prices of Uber Black or other premium taxis.
This means that a ride in a flying taxi might cost more than a regular Uber ride. However, in the future, costs could approach the price of a premium car, such as Uber Black. It is important to note that Archer has not yet published the final retail price for Los Angeles.
Midnight is a fully electric aircraft. The company claims that it is designed to operate with a lower noise level compared to traditional helicopters and produces no emissions during flight. This is why eVTOL companies position it as a more modern and suitable alternative to helicopters for urban environments. Midnight is equipped with multiple engines and propellers, and its development takes into account commercial aviation safety requirements.