Southwest Airlines Company and Archer Aviation Inc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop operational plans for electric air taxi networks utilizing Archer electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at California airports where Southwest operates.
Southwest operates at 14 airports across California. Archer’s new Midnight eVTOL aircraft is designed to replace 60- to 90-minute commutes by automobile with electric air taxi flights taking an estimated 10-20 minutes. The goal of the Midnight aircraft is to provide a safe, low-noise, cost-competitive transportation option with no direct emissions.
Southwest and Archer intend to collaborate on a concept of operations that lays the foundation for integrated electric air taxi networks that would support the California airports that Southwest serves as well as surrounding communities. The collaboration is to include a partnership with Southwest employees and unions to maintain and improve efficient operations.
By combining Southwest’s California airport network and frequent intrastate flights with Archer’s aircraft and planned urban air mobility network, the two companies intend to potentially provide Southwest customers with an airport transportation service that saves time by streamlining the door-to-door passenger journey.
The Archer Midnight is a piloted, five-place, eVTOL aircraft optimized to fly back-to-back flights of 20-50 miles with minimal charge time between the flights. Service entry of the Midnight is planned for 2025.
Raymond Jaworowski currently co-authors three of Forecast International's best-selling products: Civil Aircraft Forecast, Military Aircraft Forecast, and Rotorcraft Forecast. As a contributor to Aviation Week & Space Technology's Aerospace Source Book, he has authored Aircraft Outlooks, and provided input for the publication's Aircraft Specifications tables. Raymond has represented Forecast International at numerous conferences and trade shows, often as a featured speaker. He is a member of the American Helicopter Society.
