U.S.-based Archer Aviation is set to deploy the first fleet of its Midnight electric air taxis in Abu Dhabi starting this year. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.
The company announced today that it signed a deal with Abu Dhabi Aviation Group (ADA) as part of its global “Launch Edition,” which was launched from Abu Dhabi in partnership with ADA to establish an initial fleet in coordination with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to safely deploy air taxi services in the region.
20-minute air taxi flights to transform Abu Dhabi’s urban landscape
Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel in Abu Dhabi, replacing 60 to 90-minute commutes by car with an estimated 10 to 20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable and low noise.
Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate on establishing a framework that will allow Archer to establish a pragmatic and repeatable playbook to deploy Midnight commercially in multiple early adopter markets, build operational expertise, generate revenue and continue to strengthen long-term demand.
“We have been observing the advancements in eVTOL technology for years, and we are proud to partner with Archer to bring this innovation to the UAE. As a leading force in the aviation industry across the region and the largest helicopter operator in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Aviation has the expertise to develop a scalable urban air mobility service. We are excited to lead the way in launching the region’s electric air taxi service, starting right here in Abu Dhabi,” stated Nader Al Hammadi, chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation.
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Archer to build booking application
Beyond deploying the air taxi, Archer will provide Abu Dhabi Aviation Group with a team of experienced pilots, technicians and engineers to support the initial operational ramp-up, ensuring a safe and efficient deployment. Additionally, the company plans to offer an integrated software infrastructure, including a booking application, to support UAM operations.
“The unveiling of Launch Edition marks the beginning of the next chapter for Archer. This is how we’ll bring Midnight from the manufacturing line to our first customers—and it’s a playbook we’ll run repeatedly as we scale our operations globally. Thank you to Abu Dhabi Aviation for being our first Launch Edition customer. We have a big year ahead,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer.
In December last year, Archer signed a multi-party cooperation agreement to initiate commercial air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi. The agreement sought to formalize the collaboration between all UAE and Abu Dhabi stakeholders in preparation for the launch of the first commercial air taxi flight.
It also aims to establish the first manufacturer of vertical electric vehicles in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Abu Dhabi Airports and other key stakeholders.
