If you’ve ever stared out the window of your Uber, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to JFK, and thought, “There has to be a better way,”… well, you just described Archer Aviation’s entire business model.

Before we even get to the United Airlines partnership, let’s just take a moment to appreciate the heater Archer Aviation is on. We’re talking a streak that would make the 2017 Golden State Warriors look modest… racking up FAA approvals, locking in hot partnerships, launching headline-grabbing projects, and oh yeah… the stock’s up 126% in just six months. Anyways, Archer just announced a partnership with United Airlines to launch an air taxi network in NYC… a plan that feels part Star Wars, part Uber Black, and 100% cooler than whatever Delta is doing these days.

I’ll try to break it down like a pre-flight safety demo… but with less awkward pointing. You’re probably already aware but Archer Aviation is the mad genius behind electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Their claim to faim vehicle, Midnight, looks like someone crossbred a helicopter with my wife’s minivan and gave it a Red Bull.

This thing seats four passengers and a pilot, and is built for short-haul city hops… think downtown to the airport in 5 to 15 minutes, instead of spending 90 minutes in a cab listening to someone’s 4-hour podcast on crypto. It’s sci-fi stuff, but real. Archer’s got a legit production facility, and they’re already cranking out aircraft for testing. 

The only catch is the planes aren’t approved for commercial use yet because in the U.S., getting your aircraft certified is like trying to get your mom to play Fortnite: damn near impossible, especially if you’ve never done it before and your plane doesn’t fly like a “normal” plane.

With all that said, Archer is actually making progress. The FAA has already approved Archer to operate as a commercial airline, and greenlit their pilot training academy. The only thing left is Type Certification, which basically says, “Yes, your flying machine won’t explode mid-air.” Archer’s aiming to fly commercial passengers in 2025, but let’s be real… that ain’t happening in the U.S. first. Enter Abu Dhabi… the Vegas of the Middle East, but with more oil money and fewer buffets.

This launch is way more than about bragging rights… it’s about a proof-of-concept, a working model they can point to and say, “See? We’re not crazy.” And once they iron out the kinks over there, rolling the model out in other regions (like Ethiopia, where they already have interest) becomes way easier.

Back on home turf, Archer and United are going all-in on air taxis in New York City. We’re talking flights from Manhattan to JFK, LaGuardia, Newark… anywhere you’ve ever flown in or out of. With existing helipads, strong demand, and a partner like United (who already put in an order for a fleet of Midnight aircraft), NYC could be the first U.S. market to actually pull this off. If they get FAA approval in time, you might just be hailing a ride in the sky before your next overpriced Shake Shack run.

Backers like Stellantis (yes, the carmaker) and United Airlines give the whole operation a sense of grounded credibility. This isn’t just some SPAC fever dream from 2021. It’s a company with a roadmap… and actual wins to show for it.

Look, analysts don’t always get it right… but when the suits start smiling, it means something. Archer Aviation currently holds a strong buy rating, with analysts initiating an average price target of $11.39 on it. That’s a potential 60%+ upside from where the stock sits today. Not too shabby for a company still in the regulatory maze.

Stocks.News has positions in Uber, Shake Shack, Stellantis, Archer Aviation and United Airlines.