Angelenos may soon be able to beat the city’s notorious highway gridlock — by taking to the skies.
Archer Aviation is positioning itself as Los Angeles’ prime transit option ahead of the 2028 Olympics, offering short flights at costs roughly matching those of Uber Black.
It’s fleet of battery-powered aircraft can cut a 90-minute road trip down to a 5-minute flight, according to Adam Goldstein, the company’s chief executive officer.
It’s a “once in a generation” project, said Goldstein.
“From an aviation perspective, this is one of the most exciting things happening in the industry,” Goldstein told The California Post.
LA28 — the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games — in May named Archer Aviation the official air taxi provider for Team USA and the upcoming event.
Since then, the company has locked in key venue deals and acquired Hawthorne Airport, just two miles from LAX and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, as its hub.
In photos shared exclusively with The California Post, the vehicles look like oversized drones with wings.
The aircraft are meant to fly at roughly the same altitude as a helicopter, between 1,500 and 2,000 feet.
But unlike helicopters, which use a single large rotor and make the classic “wop wop” sound, Archer’s planes rely on multiple small propellers inside the rotor disc, producing only a soft whoosh.
The result, Goldstein said, is a quieter, more efficient ride that’s easier to integrate into the city’s crowded airspace.
“These planes are closer in size to a car than a 787,” Goldstein said, noting that a fully loaded aircraft weighs roughly 6,500 pounds — about the same as a Tesla Model X — and packs twice the battery life.
Each of the mini-flying giants costs roughly $2.5 million to build, with a massive Atlanta facility handling full-scale production.
Riders will be able to book flights through the Archer app, similar to a ride-hail vehicle.
Prices are roughly in line with ordering an Uber Black — making it accessible to everyday Angelenos who want to soar above the 405, Goldstein said.
For reference, an Uber Black from LAX to the LA Memorial Coliseum, where the games are held, is just under $100.
The feds have been expediting Archer’s rollout. The Trump administration is backing early trials of electric, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in cities across the nation through the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, designed to test flying taxis safely and build public trust before large-scale deployment.
Archer, along with a handful of other companies, will begin trial flights this summer in Huntington Beach and other pilot cities. The first commercial rides could launch soon after, pending government approval.
