As air taxi travel nears takeoff in the United States, Archer Aviation has announced plans for a 2026 launch in Los Angeles ahead of the World Cup.
The airline said it plans to use existing infrastructure at locations including the University of Southern California, Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport and SoFi Stadium. The goal is to quickly get travelers to their destinations over congested highways using multi-propeller air taxis that the company says are significantly quieter than helicopters.
The Federal Aviation Administration recently authorized the Santa Clara, California-based electric air taxi company to test its aircraft commercially ahead of an official public launch, which will likely occur first in Chicago and Newark, New Jersey, where Archer has confirmed two routes with United Airlines.
“These are the first infrastructure deals we’ve announced in Los Angeles,” Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel said of Thursday’s announcement. “I think we’re making a lot of progress in how we work with cities and building out some of our first networks.”
A launch in Los Angeles requires authorization from the FAA, which largely oversees airspace, and from local and state agencies that set requirements for regulations and infrastructure, including permits and design plans for takeoff and landing areas. Archer said that before a launch, cargo sites need to be electrified and clear rules for air traffic operations need to be established.
Goel said Archer will work with communities to establish routes and that much of the regulatory work has been done through the company's partners.
At USC, he said the four helipads have rarely been used because of noise and costs. Archer has “established a relationship with the university and the administration there to be able to use them for visitors, for guest speakers, for people who live far from campus” who would have to travel a long distance, he said.
Archer is also working with Southwest Airlines, in addition to United, and with fixed-base airport terminal operator Atlantic Aviation, which Archer plans to use as a ground-based location at LAX and Hollywood Burbank Airport. At SoFi, Goel said, Archer is working with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to establish a vertiport space. The stadium will host World Cup matches in mid-2026.
“We’re not proposing that we’re going to build a bunch of new infrastructure,” Goel said. “We’re going to leverage existing infrastructure that’s already all over the city but, frankly, is pretty underutilized. So what we’re hoping to do is leverage the space and certified airports that are already there and fly our planes from them.”
Equity, accessibility, emissions and noise are key concerns that need to be addressed when it comes to air taxi travel, transit experts say.
Licensing requirements in California are also strict compared to other states, and air taxi services may face stricter oversight compared to other parts of the country. Experts have also pointed to affordability as a potential hurdle because air taxi services may benefit some residents more than others.
Goel said Archer's ultimate goal would be for the cost of a ride to be on par with that of a taxi or ride-sharing service, but initially, he said, it would more likely be similar to the cost of a premium car service.
Archer’s Southern California network would also include Santa Monica, Long Beach, Van Nuys and Orange County, where Santa Cruz-based air taxi company Joby Aviation, which previously received FAA authorization to test operations, has been discussing plans with officials and partners to operate out of John Wayne Airport.
