With the world’s eyes on Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, the city is rolling out some ambitious infrastructure plans to improve public transport and connectivity during the Games. Yesterday, LA28 officially announced the involvement of the San Jose company Archer Aviation, which will be the event’s Official Air Taxi Provider. The plan is for Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft to transport VIP guests, fans, and stakeholders to key venues, in the interest of leaving “a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America.”
While Midnight resembles a helicopter, it is a type of vehicle called an “eVTOL,” which stands for “electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.” It can carry up to four passengers between vertiport take-off and landing hubs, located near key LA28 destinations including the Coliseum and LAX. With 12 total engines and propellers, 10-20 minute journeys will produce less noise and emissions than a traditional helicopter, according to an LA28 press release.
Archer Aviation built Midnight in their manufacturing facilities in San Jose, CA, and Covington, GA. The San Jose-based company is dedicated to developing innovative technologies for the “future of aviation,” to target heavy traffic routes and cut people’s commutes down from 1+ hours to “mere minutes.” They are backed by Boeing and United Airlines.
While the aircraft has not yet been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), they aim to secure approval and operate at a commercial scale before the Olympics.
“Our vision is to fundamentally reimagine the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience,” said Casey Wasserman, LA28 Chairperson and President, “…and this partnership represents an incredible opportunity to deliver something unprecedented, showcasing the very best of what Los Angeles has to offer on the world stage.”
“I can’t wait to see Midnight flying passengers over Los Angeles, emblazoned with the Team USA logo and LA28 logo,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
LA28’s “Twenty-Eight by ’28” initiative is working to implement 28 key transit projects before the 2028 Olympics, including the new LAX Metro Transit Center, providing a crucial rail link between the city and the airport, and several major metro line expansions. You can learn more about the upcoming public transport projects in our article on Secret L.A.
Head to the LA28 website to learn more about their partnership with Archer Aviation.