By Jorge Vazquez
Nov 29, 2023, 07:00 AM EST
Archer Aviation Inc. and United Airlines announced their first airport-to-downtown route, between United’s hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and New York City.
The midtown Manhattan heliport, located just above Battery Park at Pier 6, has been confirmed as the first planned takeoff and landing location as part of Archer’s broader plan to launch an urban air mobility (UAM) network in the entire New York metropolitan area.
The goal of Archer’s electric air taxi network is to provide passengers with safe, fast, quiet and cost-effective transportation to and from EWR.
Archer’s proposed route from Manhattan to EWR marks the first dedicated route to be announced in the eVTOL industry.
United’s center at EWR is ideally located to serve Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs, as well as New Jersey communities.
Archer estimates the trip from the midtown Manhattan heliport to EWR will take less than 10 minutes in his all-electric Midnight aircraft, a quiet, sustainable and safe alternative to helicopters. A similar car trip can last over an hour or more during peak traffic hours.
“We are excited to confirm that New York is the first of many routes we will announce alongside United as we work to develop our domestic UAM network,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with United and working closely with state and local government leaders in the New York and New Jersey area as we bring this exciting new form of transportation to life.”
“We are thrilled that Archer and United Airlines have chosen to launch their first route right here in our City of New York,” said Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City. “We want New York to be a place of bold innovation and outside of box thinking, and I encourage other companies to follow suit.”
“Once operational, electric air taxis will fundamentally change the way United customers experience comfort, convenience and efficiency during their airport trips,” said Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures. “Archer’s route from New York to Newark marks another important benchmark for providing safe, carbon-neutral travel that dramatically reduces travel time and produces a fraction of the sound emitted by helicopters.”
Archer’s first launch routes will provide shuttle service from the airport to the city centre, referred to as “core” routes. Once these main trunk routes have been established, Archer will begin building “branch” routes to connect with surrounding communities. The launch of the first phase of this UAM network is planned for 2025.
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