Archer Agrees to Potential Air Taxi Sale Worth $580M

The company on Tuesday said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Future Flight Global (FFG), a startup that plans to operate eVTOL and other advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft, for the planned sale of as many as 116 air taxis.

The deal is worth up to $580 million, or about $5 million per aircraft.

“As our first private aviation partner, and with their deep ties in aviation and bold approach, FFG is positioned to be a new leader in modern aviation,” said Andrew Cummins, director of business development at Archer.

FFG was founded by former executives of business jet operator Titan Aviation, including former CEO Karam Singh, who now serves as chief executive for the AAM startup. According to Archer, FFG and Titan have a joint venture under which they will fly AAM aircraft worldwide, including in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Archer’s Midnight, a zero-emission, four-passenger design, could be one of the first aircraft in the companies’ fleet. The air taxi is designed to fly 10-to-20-minute trips covering 20 to 50 sm, charging for only a few minutes between flights.

Archer on Monday said the agreement with FFG brings its conditional order book total for Midnight to almost $6 billion, which includes a billion-dollar order from United Airlines for 100 aircraft.

FFG made an unspecified initial deposit as part of the MOU, which also sets terms for a predelivery payment of $5 million to be paid once agreement is complete. That will be contingent on the partners settling on a final purchase order and charting a strategic operating alliance.

What is known is that FFG will operate a handful of routes within Archer’s planned air taxi network, which will include electrified vertical takeoff and landing sites—or vertiports—at terminals operated by FBO networks Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation. It will also work with new infrastructure partners to set the stage for service in other Archer markets, which could include the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.

“To support these plans, Archer and FFG will work together on ecosystem development, infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and demand generation,” Archer said.

FFG will use Midnight to offer on-demand flights to an array of private customers, including corporations, hotels, governments, and high net worth individuals.

“Midnight’s versatility makes it well-suited to diverse routes and mission profiles, while also providing a world-class experience and operational efficiency that's attractive to our corporate clients,” said Singh.

Archer intends to launch home-to-airport air taxi routes with United in 2025 and Southwest Airlines in 2026. But other services such as business transport and aerial tourism are also part of the company’s plans.

Last week, for example, the manufacturer announced it is working with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams to build exclusive vertiports near the Rams’ SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

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