Flying Taxis Coming To LA Could Cost About The Same As An Uber Black Ride

LOS ANGELES, CA — Flying taxis will ferry passengers directly to LA Live under a new partnership aimed at expanding an electric air taxi network across Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics, according to a plan announced Monday.

Archer Aviation and entertainment giant AEG announced that they plan to develop a vertiport — a takeoff and landing site for electric aircraft — at the downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment district. The deal also makes Archer the exclusive air taxi partner of LA Live, home to Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater.

The LA Live location would be Archer’s 11th planned vertiport in the Los Angeles region, the Orange County Register reported.

It would be the first downtown node in Archer's proposed Los Angeles network, which is expected to include LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport, SoFi Stadium, USC and John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Archer purchased Hawthorne Airport last year to serve as the network's central operating hub.

An Archer spokesman told the Register the company expects fares to be comparable to Uber Black, though the aircraft remains in flight testing and pricing has not been finalized.

Archer has also been named the Official Air Taxi Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. The company plans to fly fans, athletes and other visitors around the region during the games.

Its aircraft, dubbed Midnight, is a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed for short urban trips. It can fly at speeds of up to 150 mph and is designed to carry four passengers.

• See also: Flying Taxis May Help Ease LA Traffic During 2028 Olympics

Archer says the aircraft could turn some hourlong drives into flights lasting 10 to 20 minutes.

The company is still working through the Federal Aviation Administration's certification process. Archer said it recently completed Phase 3 of the FAA's four-phase Type Certification process, with Phase 4 underway.