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Taking Off: Archer Aviation’s Bold Move Brings Flying Taxis Closer to LA28

Archer Aviation’s LA airport acquisition could make flying taxis a reality just in time for the 2028 Olympics.

Published

7 months ago

November 7, 2025

Rod Washington

Last Updated on November 9, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Image Credit: Archer Aviation

From Olympic Dreams to Take-Off Plans

Back in our feature “Flying Taxis and Olympic Dreams: Will LA28 Be the Jetsons Era in Real Life?” we explored whether Los Angeles could become the first city to showcase flying taxis on the global stage during the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Now, that futuristic vision has gained some serious thrust. Archer Aviation — one of the leading players in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft — has announced a major move that could change how the city thinks about air mobility.

Archer Takes Control of Hawthorne Airport

In a landmark deal, Archer announced plans to acquire control of Hawthorne Airport — just three miles from LAX — for approximately $126 million in cash.

The 80-acre site, home to 190,000 square feet of hangars and terminal facilities, will become the company’s operational hub for its Los Angeles air-taxi network and a testbed for AI-driven aviation technology.

Alongside the purchase, Archer raised an additional $650 million in new equity funding, bringing its liquidity to more than $2 billion — a strong signal that the company is serious about turning concept into concrete.

What This Means for LA’s Mobility Future

This isn’t just a real estate move. It’s a strategic infrastructure play.

If Los Angeles is to handle Olympic crowds and long-term congestion, new vertical mobility hubs are essential. Hawthorne could serve as the first of several vertiports forming a network across the metro area.

It also puts Archer in a prime position to work alongside city planners and mobility partners preparing for the LA28 Games — potentially transforming how visitors move between venues, airports, and downtown.

Caution: Not Quite “Jetsons” Yet

While this progress looks promising, it’s not smooth skies ahead just yet.

FAA certification remains the biggest hurdle; only about 15% of compliance documentation has been approved. Production and scaling still pose risks — building and maintaining a fleet of electric aircraft at commercial levels isn’t cheap. Public acceptance will matter too. Even the quietest aircraft need to earn the city’s trust for noise, cost, and safety.

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Still, compared to even a year ago, the vision of air taxis over Los Angeles feels far less like science fiction.

A Step Toward the Olympic Future

Archer’s move aligns perfectly with the question we raised earlier:

Can Los Angeles turn the 2028 Olympics into a showcase for sustainable, futuristic transportation?

By securing its own hub near LAX and backing it with fresh capital, Archer seems determined to make that answer a yes. Whether passengers will be hailing flying taxis in time for LA28 remains uncertain, but the groundwork — both financial and physical — is clearly being laid.

The skies over LA might just get busier — and cleaner — in the years to come.

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