Air taxis' Olympic moment
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As the Paris Olympics draw to a close, plans are afoot to use electric air taxis for shuttling visitors around the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Why it matters: Air taxis were supposed to be zipping over Paris during the past two weeks, but the electric aircraft — which take off and land vertically — still need regulatory approval.
- Many of the half dozen or so leading companies working on so-called "eVTOLs" say they're making progress toward certification, with a splashy presence looking realistic for the 2028 Olympics.
Driving the news: One such company, Archer Aviation, plans to launch a Los Angeles air mobility network as early as 2026, it announced yesterday.
- Service would begin slowly, with a handful of aircraft on select routes, Archer chief commercial officer Nikhil Goel tells Axios.
- The goal is to be "at scale" by the 2028 L.A. Olympics.
- Archer ultimately hopes to replace traffic-choked car trips of an hour or two with a quick 10- or 20-minute flight aboard its Midnight aircraft.
Zoom in: Archer's planned L.A. network leverages partnerships with major airlines, including Southwest, as well as Signature and Atlantic Aviation, which support business and private aviation at smaller airports.
- It includes "vertiports" at key locations such as Los Angeles International Airport, Orange County, Santa Monica, Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach and Van Nuys.
- Archer is also working with the Los Angeles Rams to create potential vertiports near SoFi Stadium.
- The University of Southern California, which has four existing heliports on campus, could also become part of the network, Archer said in a press release.
What they're saying: "Establishing our L.A. network ahead of the global events that are coming to the region over the next three years is a milestone that will put Midnight on display for the whole world to see," CEO Adam Goldstein said, referring to soccer's World Cup in 2026, the Super Bowl in 2027 and the Olympics in 2028.
- "L.A. is known for its horrendous traffic — our goal is to offer a safer, faster and sustainable alternative travel option."
The big picture: Archer is the second air taxi company targeting L.A. and its notorious bumper-to-bumper highways.
- Rival Joby Aviation aims to begin commercial air taxi service in L.A. and New York in 2025, in partnership with Delta Air Lines.
- Like Archer, Joby hopes to have its aircraft certified soon by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Between the lines: As their rivalries intensify, the companies are setting up the necessary operations for commercial air taxi service.
- In June, Joby received FAA authorization for its new software operating system, including an Uber-like app for booking air taxis.
- Archer previously announced plans for an air taxi network in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The bottom line: Electric air taxis could offer a faster, sustainable transportation alternative — but flying on them could be expensive compared to public transit.
