Archer Aviation and AEG have announced plans to develop a vertiport at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles, aiming to establish electric air taxi services in the city ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This partnership designates Archer as the exclusive air taxi provider for AEG's L.A. LIVE entertainment district.
The proposed vertiport will serve as a base for Archer's Midnight aircraft, an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle designed for urban transportation. Archer CEO Adam Goldstein stated that the downtown location is a key addition to the company's planned Los Angeles network, which is intended to cut travel times across the sprawling city to between 10 and 20 minutes, a significant reduction from current car travel times that can exceed an hour.
This development is closely linked to the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games, as Archer is the Official Air Taxi Provider of LA28 and Team USA. L.A. LIVE is scheduled to host 19 Olympic and Paralympic sports during the event, making the new vertiport a potential component of the city's transportation infrastructure for the international sporting event.
AEG Global Partnerships President and COO Nick Baker expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting its potential to enhance the fan experience at major sports and entertainment events hosted at L.A. LIVE.
Archer and AEG have completed an initial feasibility study covering land use, airspace, power availability, and community impact. They are currently reviewing operational plans and passenger procedures. The vertiport is expected to include electric aviation chargers from BETA as part of Archer's ACES consortium, which is working to standardize charging infrastructure for air taxis.
Archer states that its Midnight aircraft produces zero operating emissions and generates less noise than conventional helicopters. The aircraft also incorporates redundant systems designed to meet safety standards comparable to commercial airliners. The company plans to unveil a Midnight aircraft with a special “Team USA” Olympic livery at L.A. LIVE on August 24, with the aircraft remaining on public display through August 25.
Previous announcements from Archer outline plans for additional air taxi locations at SoFi Stadium, USC, and Hollywood Burbank Airport, with Hawthorne Airport designated as the network's central operational hub.