Residents of the UAE may see their dreams of flying in a car come true by 2025.
Archer, a US-based electric flying car manufacturer, is partnering with Falcon Aviation, a UAE-based aviation services operator, to establish vertiports (vertical airports) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The vertiports will connect the two cities using Archer's piloted, four-passenger aircraft called Midnight, designed for rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between them.
The initial vertiport locations will be at Falcon Heliport at Atlantis the Palm in Dubai and the Marina Mall heliport in Abu Dhabi's Corniche. These vertiports aim to reduce a 60–90-minute car commute to an estimated 10-30 minute electric air taxi flight, providing a safe, low-noise, and cost-competitive alternative to ground transportation. The first vertiports are expected to be operational before the launch of the flying car service between the two emirates in 2025, marking Archer's inaugural international launch.
The flying car will exclusively operate over water, offering passengers breathtaking views of the cities and the Arabian Sea. Archer's CEO, Adam Goldstein, expressed excitement about introducing the Midnight aircraft to the region, envisioning the UAE as a global leader in urban air mobility.
Falcon Aviation's CEO, Captain Ramandeep Oberoi, highlighted the company's longstanding role in helicopter passenger transport in the UAE, spanning nearly two decades.
Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer at Archer, emphasized the rapid progress made in the UAE within the past three months since announcing the plans for the first international Midnight flights in Abu Dhabi and Dubai by 2025.
In February 2024, Joby Aviation, a US-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, signed an agreement with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA).
Joby plans to launch air taxi services by early 2026, with initial operations targeted for 2025. Additionally, Joby has partnered with Skyports to design, build, and operate four vertiport sites across Dubai, including Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Downtown.
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News Source: Khaleej Times
