Thursday, March 27th, 2025
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has revealed a new contract with Ethiopian Airlines and is now the second career to participate in the company's “Launch Edition” program aimed at deploying Midnight Aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa and a member of the Star Alliance, serves more than 140 international destinations across five continents. The collaboration will focus on establishing an all-electric air taxi network in the region using Archer's Midnight Aircraft.
Introduced in February 2025, the Launch Edition program is designed to create scalable models for safely deploying aircraft in the early recruitment market. This initiative allows Archer to showcase the capabilities of midnight aircraft, build public acceptance, gain operational experience and generate early revenue.
Archer will deploy a midnight “launch version” aircraft fleet to Ethiopian airlines supported by Archer's team of pilots, engineers and engineers. The company also offers backend software and frontend booking applications to power urban air mobility operations during the program.
The main focus is on developing aerial taxi networks in the region, but both companies are also exploring additional midnight use cases, including ecotourism.
The partnership was officially formalized in Addis Ababa at this week's signature ceremony. Archer and Ethiopian airlines will work with Ethiopia's Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) to ensure efficient and safe implementation of midnight aircraft.
“We are pleased to announce that we are pleased to announce that we are a great place to go,” said Mesfin Tasew, group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. “We are committed to pioneering air mobility solutions that enhance connectivity in Africa and promote sustainable aviation. Our partnership with Archer Air tells us the key steps to bring cutting-edge EVTOL technology to Ethiopia.
“We're committed to providing a great opportunity to help you,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “Last month we announced Abu Dhabi Airlines as the customer for its first launch edition, and we are following it on the second Ethiopian Airline.
Alastair Curtis, general manager of Africa at Archer, said: “The partnership with Ethiopian Airlines represents a transformative step towards bringing sustainable and efficient air mobility solutions to Ethiopia and the wider African market.
“US airlines have repeatedly highlighted the best of America's quality and innovation. We are excited about the opportunity for Archer to thrive more through a new agreement with Ethiopian Airlines.”
Archer's vision is to revolutionize urban travel by replacing long car commutes with 10-20 minute electric taxi flights, offering a sustainable, low-noise, and cost-effective alternative to traditional ground transport. Midnight is a pilot four-seater aircraft designed to run quick trips with minimal downtime for charging.
