American eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) manufacturer Archer announced that it has acquired Los Angeles Hawthorne Municipal Airport for US$126 million, planning to build it into a take-off and landing hub for electric air taxis and an innovative testing base for the next generation of AI-driven aviation technology.
Hawthorne Airport is located southwest of Los Angeles, about 3 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. It covers an area of 80 acres and has approximately 190,000 square feet of terminal space. The airport, known as "Jack Northrop Field" after famous aviation industrialist Jack Northrop, was built in the 1920s.
The acquisition is part of Archer's recent series of expansion moves. Earlier this year, the company was selected as the official air taxi supplier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, Archer also plans to work with its partners United Airlines and automobile manufacturer Stellantis to deploy multiple vertical take-off and landing ports in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to facilitate high-speed travel between cities. For example, New Yorkers can use air taxis to travel between Manhattan and surrounding international airports in 5 to 15 minutes, significantly shortening transportation time.
Hawthorne Airport will not only become the operational base for Archer air taxis, but will also carry out aviation AI innovation, such as the testing and application of advanced technologies such as air traffic control and ground handling operations management. United Airlines is an important investor in Archer. It not only signed a contract to purchase eVTOL models, but also injected funds into the company's future development. Michael Leskinen, chief financial officer of United Airlines, said: "Archer's development trajectory proves that eVTOL is the next generation of air transportation technology and will profoundly reshape the aviation industry. The AI operation platform created by the company is not only oriented to eVTOL, but also committed to using cutting-edge technology to improve the safety and efficiency of personnel movement in congested airspace."
In addition to the airport acquisition, Archer also announced $650 million in new financing, bringing total liquidity to more than $2 billion. Its Midnight aircraft has achieved important milestones: its single flight range has exceeded 80 kilometers, its flight altitude has exceeded 3,048 meters, and it can accommodate four passengers and one pilot. In addition, Archer has completed aircraft testing and demonstration flights in the United Arab Emirates, and has established cooperative relationships with Korean Air and Japan Airlines-Sumitomo joint venture Soracle to promote international business.