Archer Aviation to Launch Air Taxi Network in Los Angeles by 2026 Ahead of Major Global Events

Ibrahim Awotunde

Los Angeles is known for its relentless traffic, a challenge that’s set to intensify with the influx of millions of visitors expected for the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics.

With many of the city’s planned transportation infrastructure improvements lagging behind schedule, Archer Aviation sees a unique opportunity to fill the gap with a private sector solution: a cutting-edge air taxi network that could drastically reduce travel times across the city.

Archer Aviation, a pioneer in electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), aims to replace what would typically be a two- to three-hour car journey with a swift 10- to 20-minute air taxi ride.

The company plans to roll out this service in Los Angeles by 2026, just in time for the global influx brought by these high-profile events.

In a strategic move ahead of its second-quarter earnings report, Archer announced the locations of its future vertiports—designated areas for takeoff and landing.

These include Los Angeles International Airport, the University of Southern California, Santa Monica, Hollywood Burbank, Van Nuys, and Long Beach within Los Angeles County, as well as locations in Orange County.

Notably, Archer is also collaborating with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and the LA Rams to construct a new vertiport at SoFi Stadium, a key venue for the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympic games. While this particular vertiport won’t be operational by 2026, Archer aims to complete it in time for the Olympics in 2028.

This Los Angeles initiative comes on the heels of Archer’s recent memorandum of understanding with Kilroy Realty Corporation, which earmarked Kilroy Oyster Point, a 50-acre waterfront campus in South San Francisco, as a vital hub in Archer’s planned San Francisco Bay Area urban air mobility network.

Nikhil Goel, Archer’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted that many of the vertiport locations in Los Angeles are already established.

“LA has perhaps the most underutilized aviation infrastructure in the entire country,” Goel remarked, pointing out the numerous existing airports and rooftop helipads that are currently unused.

Archer’s main task will be to equip these sites with the necessary charging infrastructure and passenger facilities.

The selection of these vertiport locations was data-driven, focusing on existing traffic patterns within the city. Archer’s recent partnership with Southwest Airlines, which grants the startup access to the airline’s customer data, has been instrumental in identifying optimal vertiport sites.

Archer’s rollout in Los Angeles will begin gradually in 2026, with the first year featuring a limited number of aircraft operating on one or two key routes.

This phased approach will allow the company to refine its technology, ensure high levels of customer service, and integrate seamlessly with the communities it serves.

Archer is also planning to introduce its air taxi service in other major cities, including San Francisco, Miami, New York City, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, with initial pilots expected to start as early as 2025.

To meet this ambitious timeline, the company is accelerating the production of its Midnight eVTOL aircraft—a piloted, four-passenger electric aircraft capable of reaching speeds up to 150 miles per hour and designed for rapid, back-to-back flights of 20 to 50 miles.

Production is well underway at Archer’s Georgia facility, where the company is on track to manufacture 650 aircraft annually starting in the fourth quarter of 2024. Additionally, Archer is building six pre-production aircraft at its California factory.

Before it can launch its air taxi service, Archer must secure Type Certification and Production Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

These certifications will confirm that the eVTOL meets all regulatory safety standards and that the company’s manufacturing processes are capable of producing safe and reliable aircraft.

As Goel aptly put it, “This is no longer Blade Runner. This is about making it real, launching as soon as 2026, and then scaling up from there.” With its aircraft already in frequent test flights, Archer is well on its way to transforming urban air mobility from a futuristic concept into a practical, everyday reality.