Ethiopian Airlines Partners with Archer for Electric Air Taxis

Sonali Tiwary

Ethiopian Airlines inked a $30 million deal with Archer Aviation to launch electric air taxis in Africa, setting the stage for a new era in urban mobility.

Photo Source: Wisk Aero LLC (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Travelers will swap hour-long car rides for zippy 10-20 minute flights on Midnight aircraft, cutting through Ethiopia's growing traffic congestion.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Archer's team will handle everything from pilots to booking apps, creating a turnkey air taxi network rather than just supplying the flying vehicles.

Photo Source: Bokenoet (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The partnership extends beyond city limits with plans to use these electric aircraft for eco-tourism, reaching natural wonders without building new roads.

Photo Source: Oronbb (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Each Midnight air taxi carries four passengers and recharges quickly between trips, making it ideal for continuous operation in busy cities.

Photo Source: Annie Starichenko (Pexels)

We are committed to pioneering advanced air mobility solutions in Africa," stated Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew, highlighting the airline's tech-forward vision.

Photo Source: Amanuel sileshi (Formally X)

This makes Ethiopian Airlines just the second customer globally to join Archer's "Launch Edition" program after Abu Dhabi Aviation's recent commitment.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

The electric vertical takeoff and landing technology promises cleaner urban transport compared to helicopters and cars, with zero direct emissions.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

With its network spanning 140+ international destinations, Ethiopian Airlines has the infrastructure to potentially expand this air taxi service across multiple African cities.

Photo Source: Wikipedia