- Air-taxi service Archer has unveiled NYC routes. Passengers will be able to get to the three New York City airports in as little as five minutes. No flights can begin, however, until the FAA clears the company’s eVTOL craft to take to the skies.
Air taxis still haven’t received takeoff clearance, but that’s not stopping them from getting everything in order to begin operations.
Archer, a leader in the field, has unveiled routes for service in New York City, which will shuttle passengers to and from the Newark, JFK, and La Guardia airports in five to 15 minutes. (That’s considerably less time than it takes to reach the terminal via car, taxi, or subway.)
Standing in the company’s way, though, is the same hurdle it has always faced: The Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is still determining how to integrate air taxis with existing flight patterns (most flights are expected to take place between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above ground level) and requirements for pilots.
Archer hoped the FAA would resolve these outstanding issues by the end of last year, but New Year’s came and went without clearance. Industry officials say they believe clearance will come soon.
Archer plans to pick up passengers at various locations in Manhattan: the East 34th Street Heliport, Downtown Skyport, and West 30th Street Heliport. From there, they can fly via eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft to the three surrounding major airports, as well as other regional gateways. Flights would be aboard the company’s human-piloted, four-passenger Midnight devices.
Archer has not said how many flights it plans to operate per day and what hours it will fly.
United Airlines put down a deposit for 200 four-passenger flying taxis from Archer in 2022. Delta, meanwhile, has put money in competitor Joby.