The electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Archer Aviation has formed a partnership with the flight service operator Falcon Aviation to develop a vertiport network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE to enable flights between the two cities.
Under the partnership, announced on March 11, 2024, Archer and Falcon Aviation will develop vertiport infrastructure in the region that will cut the two-hour car journey between Dubai and Abu Dhabi during peak times to 30 minutes by eVTOL.
The vertiports will be located at Falcon Heliport at Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai and the Marina Mall heliport in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche.
“Archer believes it is the first to announce a flying car service on this route between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, one of the world’s most prominent and congested commute corridors,” the company said.
The route will prove particularly popular due to the flight operating almost entirely over water with scenic views of both cities.
“Partnering with established operators such as Falcon Aviation, as well as the capital of the Emirates with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, has been key to quickly building our presence in the region,” Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said. “We look forward to paving the way for the introduction of our Midnight aircraft to the region which will set the stage for the UAE to become a global leader in urban air mobility.”
FLIGHT TEST | Our Midnight Aircraft Has Successfully Completed Phase 1 Of Archer’s Flight Test Program As We Continue To Advance Toward FAA Certification.
— Archer (@ArcherAviation) January 31, 2024
🕒 Midnight aircraft has successfully advanced through Phase 1 of its flight test program in only 3 months
⚡ Midnight’s… pic.twitter.com/MHZymzbGiU
On March 8, 2024, Falcon Aviation launched the upgraded Falcon Tours Heliport Terminal at Atlantis, The Palm, which provides helicopter charter service to locals and tourists between Dubai’s top hotel on the Palm Jumeirah to key destinations, including Abu Dhabi and other cities in the UAE.
As early as next year, the companies plan for this hub to serve Archer’s Midnight aircraft, operated by Falcon Aviation, as a quieter, safer, and more affordable option than helicopters.
Falcon Aviation CEO Captain Ramandeep Oberoi commented: “For nearly two decades, Falcon Aviation has been at the forefront of helicopter passenger transport in the UAE. Our partnership with Archer is a leap into the future, as we prepare to offer flying car services together in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, continuing our tradition of world-class transportation solutions.”
In 2023, Archer and Falcon signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the aviation operator to fly scores of Archer’s Midnight flying cars.
This venture is part of Archer’s strategic expansion, with the UAE set to be its first international launch market as soon as next year.
“We have made rapid progress in the UAE over the past three months since announcing Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be home to our first international Midnight flights as soon as 2025. We’re proud to be the first to announce plans to operate between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with vertiport infrastructure at both ends of the commuter journey,” said Archer Chief Commercial Officer, Nikhil Goel.