10-Minute ‘Flying Taxi’ Route Between Newark & NYC Is In The Works
It’s possible that the commute between Newark Airport and Downtown Manhattan might only be 10 minutes in the future. United Airlines and Archer Aviation recently announced their partnership and plan to launch an “airport to city center” air route. The route should take approximately 10 minutes. The route will be between United’s hub at Newark Airport and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, located above Battery Park on Pier 6 in New York City. With traffic and especially during rush hour, the aforementioned route can take as long as an hour. The four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, look like small planes but move more like a helicopter, according to Afar Magazine.
“Once operational, electric air taxis will fundamentally change how United customers experience comfort, convenience, and efficiency during their commutes to the airport,” stated Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures per Afar. “Archer’s New York to Newark route marks another important benchmark towards providing a carbon-neutral and safe commute that drastically reduces the travel time and produces a fraction of the sound emitted by helicopters.”
United’s corporate venture fund was created to help the company reach net zero emissions by 2050.
This announcement follows United’s recent investment in Eve Air Mobility. The airline will reportedly purchase 200 four-seat electric aircraft, which will also be used for an air taxi service, per the publication.
“United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation,” said Leskinen in a press release. “Our agreement with Eve highlights our confidence in the urban air mobility market and serves as another important benchmark toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050— without using traditional offsets. Together, we believe our suite of clean energy technologies will revolutionize air travel as we know it and serve as the catalyst for the aviation industry to move toward a sustainable future.”
The airline aims to have the route from New York City to Newark up and running by 2025.