Archer Aviation and its partner, United Airlines, revealed nine locations in New York where they intend to establish vertiport facilities for Archer’s four-passenger Midnight eVTOL aircraft.

The announcement comes just over two years after Archer and United revealed their first New York City route, which will connect the Downtown Skyport (formerly named the Downtown Manhattan Heliport) to Newark Liberty Airport (KEWR) in New Jersey in under 10 minutes. They are now also planning to operate from John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) and LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) in New York City’s Queens borough.

In Manhattan, Archer and United plan to take advantage of two more existing helipads: the East 34th Street Heliport (also known as the Atlantic Metroport at East 34th Street) by the East River, and the West 30th Street Heliport on the Hudson River.

Regional airports will also join the Midnight air taxi network. Archer and United plan to establish vertiports at Westchester County Airport (KHPN), located north of New York City near the Connecticut state border, as well as the Republic Airport (KFRG) on Long Island and New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport (KTEB).

“New York City is ushering in an exciting new chapter of safe, quiet, and sustainable air transportation, pioneering the integration of eVTOL aircraft into our skies,” said Andrew Kimball, president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. “We look forward to partnering with Archer and other leading eVTOL companies to propel this industry forward, facilitating the transition to eVTOLs and last-mile ‘blue highways’ delivery—cleaning up our skies, unclogging our roadways, and improving the lives of New Yorkers in the process.”

Several fixed-base operators (FBOs) have already partnered with Archer to support Midnight operations with charging infrastructure at various locations, including FBO chains Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation, as well as Skyports Infrastructure and Groupe ADP, which have jointly taken over management of the Downtown Skyport this year. 

Modern Aviation and Air Pegasus have also joined the roster of Archer’s FBO partners, the company announced on April 17. Air Pegasus operates at the West 30th Street Heliport. Modern Aviation’s nationwide FBO network includes facilities at KLGA, KJFK, and a handful of regional airports in New York.

Customers traveling with United Airlines will be able to book Midnight flights as an add-on to their regular flight itineraries. The short-hop flights, ranging from five to 15 minutes, will allow passengers to save time by avoiding heavy traffic on the road. Archer has said that airfare on the Midnight aircraft will be comparable to premium ground ridesharing services.

“The New York region is home to three of the world’s preeminent airports, serving upwards of 150 million passengers annually. But the drive from Manhattan to any of these airports can be painful, taking one, sometimes two hours. We want to change that by giving residents and visitors the option to complete trips in mere minutes,” said Archer CEO Adam Goldstein. “With its existing helicopter infrastructure, regulatory support, and strong demand, I believe New York could be one of the first markets for air taxis in the United States.”

While Archer was targeting the end of 2025 for FAA type certification and U.S. service entry of the Midnight aircraft, that will likely take longer than anticipated, given recent cuts to the FAA’s budget and staff. However, the company appears to be on track to launch operations in the UAE first. In addition to the New York City network, Archer and United are planning Midnight networks in Chicago and San Francisco. Southwest Airlines has also partnered with Archer on eVTOL air taxi networks across California.