The language of the text is English.
Electric air taxi developer Archer has secured a key operational base in Los Angeles by purchasing Hawthorne Municipal Airport for $126 million. The acquisition provides a strategic hub for its planned urban air mobility network, especially for its role as the official air taxi provider for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The facility will also serve as a center for developing next-generation, AI-powered aviation technologies. This move is supported by a recent $650 million funding round and significant progress in the company’s aircraft development and international partnerships.
In a significant move to solidify its presence in the urban air mobility market, Archer has acquired Hawthorne Municipal Airport in Los Angeles. The 80-acre facility, located approximately 4.8 kilometers (three miles) from Los Angeles International Airport, includes about 17,650 square meters (190,000 square feet) of terminal space. This acquisition is a cornerstone of Archer’s strategy to launch air taxi services in congested American cities, with networks also planned for New York and San Francisco in partnership with United Airlines and automaker Stellantis. The company aims to drastically reduce commute times, such as cutting travel between Manhattan and nearby airports to between five and fifteen minutes.
Beyond serving as a launch and landing site, the Hawthorne airport, also known as Jack Northrop Field, is slated to become an innovation testbed for Archer. The company plans to leverage the site to advance its AI-powered aviation technologies, focusing on areas like air traffic control and ground operations management. This vision is backed by key investors, including United Airlines. Michael Leskinen, United’s chief financial officer, noted that Archer’s plan for an AI-enabled platform represents the next generation of aviation technology, aimed at improving safety and efficiency in crowded airspaces.
The airport purchase coincides with several other major milestones for the company. Archer recently announced it has raised an additional $650 million, boosting its total liquidity to over $2 billion. Its flagship “Midnight” aircraft, designed for a pilot and four passengers, has also achieved key performance targets, including flights covering a range of over 80 kilometers (50 miles) and reaching an altitude of 3,048 meters (10,000 feet). On the international front, the company has conducted demonstration flights in the United Arab Emirates and established new partnerships with Korean Air and Soracle, a joint venture between Japan Airlines and Sumitomo.