Chicago To Launch First Air Taxi Service In Two Years

Startup Archer Aviation, which developed the midnight compact electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and the American airline United Airlines announced plans to open the first air taxi route in Chicago. The electric aircraft will carry passengers between O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and downtown Chicago.

The companies plan to open a flight between the city center and O’Hare International Airport in 2025. In addition, Chicago is the headquarters and largest hub for United Airlines, and its location makes Chicago an ideal place to test flying taxis.

Archer estimates that a single air taxi flight will take just 10 minutes from O’Hare Airport to your city center helipad destination. Initially, the program will be limited to the main route from O’Hare to downtown, but the companies plan to add routes to nearby communities over time.

Archer air taxis use electric motors and batteries and do not produce any emissions.  How much the air taxi service will cost is still unknown.