Ethiopian Airlines Signs $30M Agreement to Bring an Electric Air Taxi Network to Africa

Ethiopia’s national carrier became the second airline in the world to enter into an agreement for deployment of an air taxi network through a landmark deal with Archer Aviation. Archer's Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back trips with minimal charge time between flights. The deal, signed under the “Launch Edition” program, is valued at around $30 million, and will see the two parties work together on the air taxi network and explore other use cases, including eco-tourism.

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10–20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. The company’s first customer was Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), which agreed to a similar deal last month.

Archer plans to deploy an initial fleet of Midnight “Launch Edition” aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines with a team of Archer pilots, technicians, and engineers to support this initial deployment. Archer also plans to provide backend software infrastructure and front-end booking applications to help power urban air mobility operations. 

Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said, “We are committed to pioneering advanced air mobility solutions that enhance connectivity and drive sustainable aviation in Africa. Our partnership with Archer Aviation marks an important step in bringing cutting-edge electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft eVTOL technology to Ethiopia. Together, we aim to redefine regional travel and create new opportunities for efficient, eco-friendly transportation."

Powered by batteries, eVTOLs hover and fly, much like a helicopter, and are typically designed to carry two to six passengers, including a pilot. 

Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein expressed pride in taking this step with Ethiopian Airlines as. He pointed out that the agreement represents an untapped opportunity with regard to advanced air mobility, with a variety of compelling use cases that we’ll be exploring together.