Olympic organizers set their sights on another highway when Los Angeles officials evaluate the benefits of a water taxi system designed to reduce car traffic at the 2028 Olympics.
Archer said in a statement Thursday that the LA28 is the committee planning LA's third summer Olympics, which is working with San Jose-based aerospace company Archer Aviation to assemble a fleet of electric taxis, in part to transfer Olympic traffic to the sky.
No financial terms of the partnership were disclosed.
Archer's air taxis will use the city's Vertiports network to provide 10-to-20-minute flights, including at Sofi Stadium, Lax and other hubs from Santa Monica to Orange County.
The company said they will cater to audiences and VIPs, allowing them to travel between sports events without having to navigate Los Angeles traffic.
“Imagine an Olympic event at Dodger Stadium and then have to go back to Sophie for the medal ceremony,” Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Airlines, said in an interview. “How would you get there if you were in trouble within two hours.” [of] transportation? ”
The cutting-edge aircraft is part of a massive effort by LA28 organizers to implement the “car-free” Olympics, which will allow the city to better manage the expected 15 million participants of the Olympics and move towards a more sustainable transport future.
“Our vision is to fundamentally reimagine the Olympic and Paralympic experience, and this partnership is an incredible opportunity to offer something unprecedented, showing the best L.A. has to offer on the world stage,” LA28 president and President Casey Wasserman said in the statement.
Archer's four-person electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) aircraft was created to bring the benefits of helicopter travel to the masses.
“There are reasons why wealthy and celebrities use helicopters, they are very convenient,” Goldstein said, adding that Archer's planes are safer and quieter than traditional helicopters.
Founded in 2018, Archer received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration last year to test its aircraft commercially before it officially launches. The company announced plans to launch commercial services in Los Angeles, New York and Abu Dhabi.
Archer didn't disclose the cost of helicopter rides, he said, but Goldstein said his goal was to keep the price at a high-end ride share like Uber Lux. Like Uber, Archer will implement requests through the application.
The 50-car fleet for the 2028 Olympics is expected to exceed the supply.
In addition to public transportation, Archer's air taxis will also provide emergency services and safety support at the Olympics, Goldstein said.
“We’re very suitable for doing this kind of thing,” he said. “So there will be a lot of scenarios that will be used in the vehicle.”
Archer Aviation's shares closed at $11.84 on Wednesday, up 6%.
The company reported a $93 million loss in the quarter ended March 31, saying it had “great efforts and capital resources for the design and development of its planned aircraft.”
