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United Airlines eyes 200-strong air taxi fleet

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US airline United is partnering with startup Archer Aviation on the development and roll-out of a fleet of up to 200 electric air taxis.

united

Archer is one of several players in the emerging ‘urban air mobility’ segment, looking to shake up short-hop city transport using eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. Its four-passenger vehicle ‘Maker’ has a range of around 100km and can fly at speeds up to 240km/h using six five-blade tilt rotors and six two-blade VTOL-only rotors. Archer claims Maker will be able to fly from Manhattan to JFK Airport in seven minutes at a cost of just $50 per passenger.

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United, alongside Phoenix-based regional airline Mesa, has placed a provisional $1.1bn order for ‘up to’ 200 Makers, with an option for an additional $500m spend. According to United, the fleet will allow it to link passengers to its main airport hubs more rapidly and with zero tailpipe emissions. It expects the first vehicles to be in operation within five years.

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