Southwest Airlines Air Taxis May Soon Become a Reality

Southwest Airlines became the latest U.S. airline to join forces with eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation to bring electric taxis to California. 

Southwest to Bring Archer's Midnight Aircraft to California

Announced Friday, Southwest signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the San Jose-based Archer Aviation. The collaboration between Southwest and Archer will see Southwest operate its four-passenger, vertical takeoff, and landing electric "Midnight" aircraft from 14 airports across The Golden State.

Southwest plans to use Archer's electric aircraft to replace 60 to 90-minute commutes by car with flights only 10 to 20 minutes long. Southwest and Archer hope to lay the foundation for integrated electric air taxi networks connecting California airports that Southwest serves and surrounding communities.

Archer's Continued Expansion and Partnerships

Founded in 2018, Archer Aviation has quickly emerged as one of the leaders in eVTOL manufacturing for electric air taxi operations. The company's flagship aircraft, the Archer Midnight, seats four passengers (including one pilot) and is planned to operate flights around 20 to 30 miles with short charges and turnaround times. In June, the FAA gave the company the green light to begin commercial air taxi operations.

Less than a month ago, Archer made headlines when the company announced a landmark agreement with fixed-based operator Signature Aviation for access to over 200 airport terminals in cities across the United States.

In addition, United Airlines has orders for 200 Archer Midnight aircraft, valued at over $1 billion. The airline plans to begin electric air taxi operations in cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Archer's expansion is not limited to the United States, with established relationships in nations like the United Arab Emirates where Archer announced a partnership with Falcon Aviation to bring eVTOL operations to the country.

Southwest's California Operations

Southwest Airlines boasts one of the largest airline operations in California with service to 14 airports across the state, including San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), Los Angeles (LAX), Burbank (BUR), and San Diego (SAN).

The airline is "eager to explore the convenience Archer's air taxis could provide Customers flying Southwest at airports in busy urban areas," said Paul Cullen, Vice President of Real Estate at Southwest Airlines. 

"We've proudly served as California's largest carrier for nearly 25 years, and integrating Archer's electric aircraft into the travel journey potentially gives us an innovative opportunity to enhance the experience of flying Southwest. We look forward to collaborating with Archer as we assess future commercial activities in California and other Southwest locations." 

Archer and Southwest hope that their partnership will provide greater convenience to travelers while eliminating emissions to and from the airport. Citing Southwest's vast California network and frequent flights, Chief Commercial Officer at Archer, Nikhil Goel, hopes that someday passengers could "complete door-to-door trips like Santa Monica to Napa in less than three hours."