Air taxi maker Archer, ADIO to accelerate air taxi operations in UAE

Flying taxi maker Archer Aviation has signed a multi-million dollar framework agreement to accelerate its planned commercial air taxi operations in the UAE.

The framework agreement, which includes in-country manufacturing, operations and training across the region, cements Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the world’s leaders in promoting urban air mobility ahead of the launch of air taxi services with Archer’s Midnight aircraft next year.

Archer will collaborate with ADIO to construct vertiports, operational enablement for air taxis in the UAE, and in-country manufacturing of Midnight aircraft.

“Abu Dhabi is leading the way in accelerating the launch of electric air taxis globally, and ADIO is proud to partner with Archer as one of the world’s most innovative companies,” said Badr Al-Olama, the director general of ADIO.

ADIO and Archer signed an MoU at the launch of ADIO’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster in 2023. SAVI seeks to transform the future of urban mobility globally by supporting the innovation and commercialisation of smart and autonomous vehicles across land, sea, and air.

The duo will continue to work with the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft firm’s partners to accelerate Archer’s progress in the region.

With the support of its early investor, Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala, Archer’s partner operators Falcon Aviation, Air Chateau and GAL-AMMROC announced plans to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul support for the Midnight aircraft.

Archer seeks to transform urban travel, replacing 60- to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights. Its Midnight aircraft is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.

Archer advances UAE’s air mobility strategy

Meanwhile, the shift to sustainable mobility in the UAE is being accelerated by government-led initiatives that are advancing the development of infrastructure such as vertiports and eVTOL MRO facilities.

UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority officially granted operational approval for the country’s inaugural vertiport at the DRIFTx event in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone in the country’s pursuit of innovative transportation solutions.

Similarly, electric aircraft maker Joby Aviation also signed a multilateral MoU with Abu Dhabi government entities including the Department of Municipalities and Transport – Abu Dhabi, paving the way for the eVTOL firm to establish and scale up operations in the emirate and beyond.

Earlier in February, Joby partnered with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority to launch an all-electric air taxi service in the emirate, with the flying taxi firm targeting initial operations as early as 2025.

Joby’s S4 Aerial taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 322km (200 miles) per hour. The aircraft can cover a journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 30 minutes compared to around two hours by car during rush hour.

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