Courtney Carlsen, The Motley Fool

Sat, May 31, 2025, 7:15 AM6 min read

• Archer Aviation is a leader in the emerging flying taxi industry, developing electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs).

• The company has completed its manufacturing facility in Georgia and is working on deploying early fleets of its aircraft in the UAE.

• Archer aims to expand its operations to major U.S. cities, leveraging existing helicopter infrastructure to facilitate quick travel to airports.

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Flying taxis are poised to revolutionize urban travel, and Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) is at the forefront. Archer develops cutting-edge electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), or flying taxis, and plans to launch its service in the United Arab Emirates as early as this year.

Archer is working toward certification in the U.S. and ramping up its manufacturing capabilities. It's also forming partnerships with cities and airlines to ensure that its flying taxi service takes flight. The technology is still in its early stages, and the next few years are crucial for its success. Here's what the next three years could have in store for Archer Aviation.

Archer Aviation is making good headway with its air taxi business. Last year, the company finished construction on its 400,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia, where it plans to build 10 of its Midnight aircraft this year.

With the help of Abu Dhabi Aviation, Archer plans to launch its air taxi service later this year in the United Arab Emirates. It also plans to deploy small fleets of its Midnight aircraft to early adopters, like the UAE, over the next 18 to 24 months.

Archer has secured design approval for its first hybrid heliport in the UAE. The General Civil Aviation Agency has approved the design to help transform the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal helipad into a hybrid heliport for helicopters and eVTOL aircraft. Once complete, this will be the first hybrid heliport available for early commercial and air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi.

Archer hopes that operations in the UAE are just the beginning. The company has its sights set on the U.S. market over the next few years. For example, the company wants to begin operations in New York City and released its vision for the air taxi service in April. In a partnership with United Airlines, Archer plans to enable passengers to travel from Manhattan to nearby airports in just five to 15 minutes using its Midnight aircraft.

"With its existing helicopter infrastructure, regulatory support and strong demand, New York could be one of the first markets for air taxis in the United States," Archer CEO Adam Goldstein said.