Air Taxi Service Planned for LA 2028 Olympics

2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles may offer an air taxi service to outrun the city’s notorious gridlock and get to events as swiftly as possible. The Games’ official planning committee, LA28, said it’s collaborating with Archer Aviation to offer the service at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The scheme would entail a fleet of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, shuttling spectators between central facilities. Flights would run from 10 to 20 minutes and would be called up through a mobile app, akin to a ride-hailing company. And, like a helicopter, each plane would fly with two to four people.

Pending certification and cost information

Flying taxis were also scheduled for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but could not secure certification in time. Archer Aviation is in a similar place at the moment. The type certification process with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still pending. The aim is safety and design standards that match commercial airlines.

Adam Goldstein, the founder and chief executive of Archer Aviation, said he expects to get F.A.A. approval this year. He also plans to price air taxi trips at comparable rates to high-end ride-hailing services — although fares have not been finalized.

Silent, Pollution-Fre screeningese Planes for City Transit

The plane, which has 12 engines and propellers, is known as Midnight and is meant to create less noise and fewer emissions than typical helicopters. Archer Aviation, backed by Boeing and United Airlines, views the LA28 Olympics as a prime moment to debut this futuristic form of transport.

And Goldstein wanted to change the face of Los Angeles’ transportation and make a mark that would last. Still, despite setbacks and obstacles, the company is optimistic that flying taxis could be part of the city’s Olympic experience and its future travel landscape.

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