Archer unveils Midnight “Launch Edition” programme with Abu Dhabi Aviation for electric air taxi rollout.
February 27, 2025
Amid plans to deploy the first Midnight aircraft later this year, Archer has revealed its “Launch Edition” commercialisation programme in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA).
As stakeholders across the Middle East race to establish the region’s first air taxi services, ADA, the region’s largest commercial helicopter operator, will deploy an initial fleet of Archer’s Midnight aircraft in the coming months.
The collaboration between the two companies aims to establish a pragmatic and repeatable commercialisation playbook, allowing the Midnight aircraft to be deployed in dozens of early adopter markets prior to its type certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Revolutionising urban air travel
Archer’s Midnight aircraft is poised to revolutionise urban travel, offering a sustainable, low-noise and cost-competitive alternative to traditional ground transportation. The electric, four-passenger piloted aircraft is designed to replace 60-90 minute car commutes with 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights, featuring rapid turnarounds and minimal charging time required between flights.
In addition to providing the launch edition aircraft, Archer will support ADA with a team of pilots, technicians and engineers to ensure a safe and efficient ramp-up. The collaboration also includes the provision of backend software infrastructure and front-end booking application to support urban air mobility operations.
“We have been observing the advancements of eVTOL technology for years,” said Nader Al Hammadi, Chairman of ADA, commenting on the partnership with Archer. “Abu Dhabi Aviation has the expertise to develop a scalable urban air mobility service and we are excited to lead the way in launching the region’s first electric air taxi service, starting right her in Abu Dhabi.”
The two organisations are also working closely with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to ensure the successful launch of electric air taxis in Abu Dhabi this year.
Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer added that the Launch Edition programme marks the next step in “bringing Midnight from the manufacturing line to our first customers.” Thanking the team at ADA he noted the lessons learned from the programme will provide a “playbook we’ll run repeatedly as we scale our operations globally.”
UAE leading the way
Earlier this month, the UAE’s Advanced Mobility Hub marked another milestone for the region’s advanced air mobility (AAM) development. It collaborated with LIFT Aircraft Middle East on a demonstration flight of the HEXA single-person eVTOL light aircraft in Abu Dhabi during the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS).
