Electric flying car manufacturer Archer announced on Thursday that it plans to launch air taxi services in the UAE by the fourth quarter of 2025. The US-based company has made significant strides in regulatory framework, infrastructure development, and flight operations to facilitate its entry into the UAE market.
Earlier this year, Archer Aviation secured multi-hundred-million dollar investments from Abu Dhabi to manufacture air taxis locally and establish its international headquarters in the Emirates. Archer has formed a consortium led by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) to initiate commercial air taxi services in the UAE as early as Q4 2025. This consortium has been instrumental in establishing the regulatory pathway, infrastructure, and flight operations plans necessary for market entry.
Archer has also partnered with Etihad Aviation Training (EAT) to recruit and train pilots for its Midnight aircraft, and with Falcon Aviation to develop a vertiport network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Air taxis are expected to reduce 60–90-minute car commutes to an estimated 10-30 minutes, offering a safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive mode of transport.
Archer's Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed for rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights. The company has conducted over 400 test flights by early September and is nearing completion of Phase 3 of the FAA’s 4-phase type certification process.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are at the forefront of introducing air taxi operations, positioning themselves as pioneers in this new mode of transport.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
