The committee tasked with planning the LA Olympics is hoping to use flying taxis to help spectators and athletes avoid the US megacity’s notorious traffic. The Californian city is set to host the Olympics in 2028 and the organisers – LA28 – have announced a partnership with Archer Aviation in hope of providing air taxis […]
The committee tasked with planning the LA Olympics is hoping to use flying taxis to help spectators and athletes avoid the US megacity’s notorious traffic.
The Californian city is set to host the Olympics in 2028 and the organisers – LA28 – have announced a partnership with Archer Aviation in hope of providing air taxis during the event.
The deal sees Archer named as the “Official Air Taxi Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA” despite the fact the company has not yet been certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration, meaning its aircraft are not ready yet for commercial use.
Archer said it hopes to gain certification this year, and if it is authorised, the firm will use its Midnight eVTOL Aircraft to taxi residents and visitors to Olympics venues across the city in 10-20 minute flights.
Archer, which is backed by Boeing and United Airlines, is among several eVTOL makers seeking to change travel in congested urban cities by offering short-haul air travel.
Midnight is Archer’s piloted electric air taxi designed to carry up to four passengers while producing less noise and emissions than a traditional helicopter. The eVTOL is powered by 12 total engines and propellers and is manufactured at Archer’s facilities in San Jose, California and Covington, Georgia.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation. “I can’t wait to see Midnight flying passengers over Los Angeles, emblazoned with the Team USA logo and the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos.”
LA is expected to host over 15 million visitors and broadcast to billions of viewers globally over the course of the Games.
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Archer said its planned network in LA includes vertiports at key venues that central to the LA28 Games, including the stadium in Inglewood and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Additionally, the network is planned to include critical visitor hubs, including Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood, Orange County, and Santa Monica.
“At LA28, we’re building a platform for constant innovation and creativity, which is why we’ve partnered with forward-thinking companies like Archer,” said LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman.
“Our vision is to fundamentally reimagine the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience, and this partnership represents an incredible opportunity to deliver something unprecedented, showcasing the very best of what Los Angeles has to offer on the world stage.”
