United Airlines and Archer Aviation to Launch Air Taxi Route to Chicago O’Hare Airport in 2025

United Airlines and Archer Aviation will open an air taxi service at O’Hare Airport in Chicago in 2025. Faster, less polluting and not (very) expensive.

Archer Aviation and United Airlines have announced a partnership that should normally lead to the opening of an air taxi line in Chicago. The two companies plan to fly passengers from downtown Chicago to O’Hare International Airport starting in 2025.

United and Archer to launch air taxi route to Chicago O’Hare Airport in 2025

Chicago Airport is the headquarters of United Airlines, as well as a transportation hub for a huge number of passengers, making it the perfect testing ground. For example, a trip to or from O’Hare in the western suburbs of Rosemont can take anywhere from 35 minutes to over an hour, depending on traffic. And even on urban elevated trains, the journey takes about 45 minutes. Archer estimates that one of his flying taxis will only take 10 minutes from O’Hare to the downtown helipad. Initially, this program will be limited to this route, but both companies plan to add others later.

Archer describes this future air service as “interesting in terms of price”for passengers, without going into detail. But even if it is originally reserved for the richest clients, this program is a good thing for the environment. Archer’s flying taxis use electric motors and batteries that don’t emit anything harmful to the planet. “This exciting new technology will take us one step further in decarbonizing our vehicles and take us one step further in the fight against climate change,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. “I am thrilled that Chicagoans are among the first in the country to experience this innovative and convenient form of transportation.”

Faster, less polluting and not (very) expensive

This partnership is United Airlines’ latest major investment in flying taxis. The company ordered at least 200 electric flying taxis from Eve Air Mobility last year; this followed a $10 million investment in Archer the previous month.

In addition to (ground) taxis and other ride-sharing services in Chicago, the city has a very reliable public transportation system built on elevated trains and buses, which the Chicago Public Transportation Authority (CTA) has committed to convert to electric by 2040. already operates 23 electric buses. If the schedule is followed, this airway should reduce emissions and other traffic congestion, which is always a good thing.