Electric Flying Taxi Service Prepares for Launch in Global Race
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A new air taxi simulator has arrived in the United Arab Emirates as preparations advance for a dozen initial flying taxi routes across the country.
Aircraft testing, pilot training, regulatory coordination and infrastructure work are part of U.S. Archer Aviation's plans to launch flying taxis trials during the third quarter of 2025, the company told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, aims to become the first city in the Middle East to launch electric flying taxis—positioning American technology at the forefront of global urban air mobility and potentially opening new international markets for U.S. aerospace firms.
Archer's Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
Archer's Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
Archer Aviation Handout
What To Know
Archer Aviation has officially delivered its Midnight flight simulator to Etihad Aviation Training headquarters in Abu Dhabi for pilot training, the company explained in an email to Newsweek.
Abu Dhabi Aviation Group (ADA) will fund and deploy Archer Aviation's Midnight, a piloted four-passenger eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) with rapid turnaround, from Abu Dhabi starting in 2025.
Archer Aviation's Chief Commercial Officer, Nikhil Goel, told media the company's eVTOL aircraft could slash travel time between Dubai and Abu Dhabi to 22 minutes, with fares around AED 800 ($217)—on par with a premium taxi, but far faster and cheaper than a helicopter.
Traditional taxis cost less than half that, but the journey can exceed 90 minutes in traffic. Commercial flights, meanwhile, are rarely convenient for such short-haul trips.
"While exact pricing has not been announced, Archer aims to make air taxi services accessible and competitive with premium ground transportation options," the company told Newsweek, noting prices should fall as operations scale.
Abu Dhabi seeks to be the first city in the region to launch commercial flying taxis, competing with Dubai and Singapore, as the U.S., Japan and China are also at the forefront of the global race.
What People Are Saying
CCO at Archer Aviation, Nikhil Goel told Dubai Eye FM Radio Station: "This will be equally safe as flying on Emirates or Etihad, because we have 12 propellers and what that means is if one or two or three of them were to go out, you can still safely continue flying, you as a passenger would never know the difference."
Eduardo Garcia, senior manager for future skies at Canso told The Financial Times in February: "There is a limit in the cognitive capacity that humans have to manage vehicles with different speeds and performances, and more crowded airspace. We will need...more automation and artificial intelligence, helping and supporting the way we do things."
What Happens Next
A next step is to convert a select number of Abu Dhabi's more than 70 helipads into ready-to-use eVTOL hubs, allowing for fast, low-cost pickups and drop-offs with minimal new infrastructure.
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