Archer plans Texas eVTOL taxi networks

Archer Aviation (ACHR) has revealed plans for three electric air taxi networks serving the Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston areas, targeting one of the fastest-growing megaregions in the United States. The planned networks are designed to boost connectivity between major airports, business districts and coastal or event destinations across the Texas Triangle, which has a population of more than 20 million people.

Using its all-electric Midnight aircraft, Archer aims to offer 10- to 20-minute flights as an alternative to hour-long drives in the congested metropolitan corridors. The company positions these services as a way for travelers to skip over traffic while maintaining zero operating emissions on each flight.

In Austin, Archer plans an air taxi network connecting Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with the F1 Circuit Helipad at Circuit of the Americas and Austin Executive Airport in northwest Austin. The route is pitched as a new option for getting to and from the airport and major event venues more quickly than by road.

Archer also plans to display the Midnight aircraft at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, which takes place from October 22 to October 25. The Austin network is one of three announced in Texas on October 23 as part of the broader rollout.

In the Dallas–Fort Worth region, the planned air taxi network will connect major airports to key business districts, including areas such as the Dallas Star at Frisco Station. The aim is to create rapid links between aviation hubs and commercial centers across the metroplex.

In Houston, Archer intends to connect major airports to business centers and coastal destinations, including the beaches of Galveston. These routes are designed to shorten journeys that would otherwise require lengthy drives through dense traffic.

Midnight is an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi that holds one pilot and four passengers and can carry up to 1,000 pounds. It is optimized for rapid, back-to-back 20-mile trips within urban regions, with a charging time of about 10 minutes between flights and zero operating emissions.

To support these operations, the ACES consortium is working with Texas transportation officials and local partners to expand charging infrastructure across the state. Archer and BETA are collaborating to bring air taxi charging infrastructure to Texas in support of the Texas Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.

Archer’s planned Texas networks form part of operations under a White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. The program, run in partnership between the FAA and the Texas Department of Transportation, is testing air taxi routes that connect Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.

The pilot program began its first flight on September 10, marking the start of test operations for electric air taxis across the state. Supporters, including Senator Ted Cruz, have said that these planned networks can help Texans reclaim travel time and contribute to strengthening American leadership in advanced aviation technologies.