We really want to believe that traffic won’t be an issue for Los Angeles’ “no-car” turn at hosting the Olympics in 2028. After all, the city will have more Metro expansions finished by then, a pivotal people mover at LAX and a fleet of Summer Games-specific buses—plus none of L.A.’s traffic fears came to pass during the 1984 Olympics. But, you know, just in case the traffic doomers are proven right, maybe an air taxi isn’t a bad backup.
On Wednesday, Archer Aviation announced that it’s been chosen as the official air taxi provider for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as for Team USA.
So what exactly does that mean? The San Jose-based company’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, dubbed Midnight, will transport fans and VIPs and shuttle emergency services to vertiports at SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum (as well as all local airports, as outlined in the company’s initial network announcement last year). Expect 10-to-20-minute rides between key Olympics venues.
Of course, you probably haven’t actually seen Midnight airborne yet; the four-person electric vehicle, which Archer says produces less noise and emissions than a traditional helicopter, was first announced with a 2026 service target, and the vehicles are still in the process of achieving FAA certification.
As for pricing? In an interview with the L.A. Times, Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein said the cost would be similar to a high-end ride share like Uber Lux (and similarly hailed through an app). The outlet also reported that the demand will likely exceed the company’s 50-vehicle fleet—so fingers crossed that surge pricing isn’t a thing.
Midnight might not be the only eVOTL craft cruising the skies in time for the Olympics: Joby Aviation, which showcased its own vehicle last year at the Grove (part of its own network), recently reaffirmed its plans to start service as early as 2026. In a statement, the Santa Cruz company said it’s more than halfway through the fourth of five stages of FAA certification and is planning to start its final phase with FAA pilots onboard.