Archer commercializes air taxis in Abu Dhabi
With this agreement, Archer Aviation says it will become the first commercial air taxi operator to launch in the Emirates and the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The partnerships outlined in the agreement between the US eVTOL company and partner businesses in Abu Dhabi and other Emirates entities are a further step in a chain of existing business and regulatory development. The new agreements build on previous collaboration agreements with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to accelerate commercialization.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office is now also a key signatory to the agreement. According to Archer, the Emirati organisation will be an important element in the ongoing activities by facilitating the required coordination among Abu Dhabi entities in preparation for the launch of commercial operations.
According to Archer, the parties involved aim to form a “robust ecosystem for eVTOL development. ” This will involve Abu Dhabi Airports (AD Airports), Falcon Aviation Services, Etihad Aviation Training, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Global Air Navigation Services (GANS), Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL), and the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility).
Falcon Aviation Services is a corporate jet and helicopter service provider in the Middle East that offers charter, management, MRO, oil and gas support, and aerospace solutions. The company operates out of Abu Dhabi. CEO Captain Raman Oberoi said the new agreement with Archer “represents a significant milestone in the evolution of aviation” and that Falcon is committed to contributing to the successful integration of eVTOL operations in Abu Dhabi. The company has been active in helicopter transport in the UAE for nearly two decades.
Archer did not give any further information concerning its intention to manufacture eVTOLs in the UAE. The Californian eVTOL startup already has a manufacturing site in the USA. In late 2022, Archer announced that it had selected a site in the US state of Georgia to install its first factory in Covington, near an airfield. Archer partnered with United Airlines, among others, and targets making 650 flying cabs a year from 2024. It also said it would increase its manufacturing capacity significantly within ten years.
Archer uses batteries from Taiwanese manufacturer Molicel, which in turn uses the silicon-based SCC55 product from Group14 Technologies to achieve higher density and eliminate the need for graphite. Not long after announcing the manufacturing site in Georgia, USA, Archer revealed the serial model of Midnight to be manufactured there. The Midnight air taxi that vertically takes off and lands offers space for one pilot and four passengers. Archer claims a payload of over 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) and says it optimised the Midnight for short-haul flights of up to 20 miles (32 km) with a ten-minute recharge time between flights.
To certify Archer’s Midnight aircraft and approve commercial air taxi operations in the UAE, a week-long workshop at Archer’s headquarters and flight test facility in November 2024 saw collaboration between Archer and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to establish the necessary regulatory framework. According to an investor announcement from November, Archer is aiming to start commercial operations in the United Arab Emirates in Q4 2025.
Archer was keen to point out in its announcement of the Abu Dhabi air taxi services that it is the first going into operation in the region. The race to this milestone has faced hot competition from the German competitor Lilium, which received an order this summer for 50 electric air taxis from the UAE’s neighbour Saudi Arabia. Operations were scheduled to begin in 2026 but are most likely thwarted as Lilium is currently undergoing insolvency proceedings under self-administration. Stiff competition still comes from fellow Californian company Joby, which has exclusive deals in Dubai.
The automotive giant Stellantis is a major investor in Archer, which also cooperates with NASA on aircraft battery testing and has contracts with the US Department of Defense. Most recently, 100 Midnight aircraft were purchased for air taxi services in Japan.
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