Chicago is to be the site of the next air taxi route for United Airlines and Archer as the companies continue their urban air mobility (UAM) network roll-out.
The plan is for Archer’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to offer trips from O’Hare International Airport to Vertiport Chicago - which the companies say is North America’s largest such facility - in the city centre from 2025.
The trip is expected to take 10 minutes in Archer’s Midnight aircraft, versus an hour or so by car in rush hour traffic.
"Both Archer and United are committed to decarbonising air travel and leveraging innovative technologies to deliver on the promise of the electrification of the aviation industry,” said Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures.
Chicago mayor Lori E. Lightfoot comments: "This exciting new technology will further decarbonise our means of transportation, taking us another step forward in our fight against climate change."
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO, adds: “We’re looking forward to working with state and city leaders to bring an innovative transportation solution to the City of Chicago and its surrounding communities.”
ComEd, the Midwest’s largest utility company, will work with United and Archer to establish the power infrastructure necessary to support eVTOL aircraft operations in and around the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
