Southwest Airlines officially partnered with Archer Aviation to formalize an agreement through a memorandum of understanding aimed at the joint development of an air cab network in the future.
Southwest and Archer’s goal: an air cab network
The vehicle in this new service will be Archer’s Midnight aircraft, which features a four-passenger capacity and a tilt-rotor design, similar to that of a helicopter, allowing it to take off and land vertically. This battery-powered mode of transportation will be accessible from 14 airports in California where Southwest has a presence.
In addition, Archer revealed that journeys that usually take 60 to 90 minutes by car could be reduced to just 10 to 20 minutes using its air cabs. The company went public in the spring of 2020 and has been notable for attracting experts from leading companies such as Wisk and Airbus’ Vahana project, although it faced legal challenges with Wisk that were resolved last year.
Archer has also received a massive order from United Airlines worth $1 billion for its eVTOL aircraft and has entered into a partnership with Stellantis for mass production of its aircraft. Recently, Archer obtained Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a requirement to operate an on-demand Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA), a requirement to operate an on-demand air cab service, with plans to launch before the end of 2025.
The successful execution of Midnight. Source: Archer
As part of this agreement, Archer will collaborate with Southwest and its partners to develop an extensive air cab network in California, involving unions such as the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. Southwest Airlines’ vice president of real estate, Paul Cullen, expressed his enthusiasm for the convenience and efficiency these air cabs could offer customers.
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Source and photo: Archer
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