United Airlines and Archer Aviation have partnered up to launch a commercial air taxi route in Chicago, as reported by Engadget.
(Photo : KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
A United Airlines plane taxis at Newark International Airport, in Newark, New Jersey, on January 11 2023. - The US Federal Aviation Authority said Wednesday that normal flight operations "are resuming gradually" across the country following an overnight systems outage that grounded departures.
The companies are planning to open a flight path between downtown and O'Hare International Airport in 2025.
Why Chicago?
Chicago is where United's headquarters is located. Additionally, the airport commute in Chicago is an ideal testbed for flying taxes. Archer estimates that a flight in one of its air taxis will only take ten minutes to travel from O'Hare to its destination at a downtown helipad.
The city also has a robust public transportation system built around elevated trains and buses.
The program will be limited to the mainline O'Hare/downtown route first, but the companies plan to add smaller paths to surrounding communities.
According to Archer, the upcoming route is "cost competitive" for passengers. Therefore, it's aimed at wealthy business travelers, but it will also be good for the environment.
Archer's air taxis use electric motors and batteries, which means they don't produce emissions.
The partnership is the latest in the investments that United is making in flying taxis.
If everything goes to plan, the new flight path will reduce emissions and traffic congestion.
Commercial air taxis are a new and exciting development in the transportation industry in the United States. These air taxis are designed to provide fast and efficient transportation for small groups of passengers, with the goal of reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility in urban areas.
Also Read: South Korean Telecom Eyes for Flying Taxis in the Skies by 2025
Current State of Commercial Air Taxis in the US
Several companies are currently developing and testing commercial air taxis in the US, including Boeing and Joby Aviation. These air taxis are designed to be electric-powered, with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, and the ability to fly at low altitudes for short distances.
However, the development and deployment of commercial air taxis still face several challenges. These include regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), infrastructure development for landing and takeoff sites, and public acceptance and trust in this new mode of transportation.
Despite these challenges, companies continue to invest in the development of commercial air taxis, with the hope that they will become a viable mode of transportation in the near future.
The potential benefits of air taxis include reducing traffic congestion, improving mobility in urban areas, and reducing carbon emissions from transportation.
Commercial air taxis are a promising development in the transportation industry, with the potential to revolutionize the way we think about mobility in urban areas.
While there are still challenges to be overcome, companies are investing in the development of this technology, and it is likely that we will see commercial air taxis become a reality in the near future.
Related Article: US Defense Department Invests in Flying Taxis! Here's How Military Contracts Can Help Aircraft Developers
