Star Alliance Carrier Ethiopian Airlines signed an agreement with Archer Aviation and became the launch customer of the second airline for the electric airline.
Archer also has an existing launch agreement with Chicago-based United Airlines.
The US Air Taxi developers disclosed a deal on March 27 to partner with Africa's largest airlines to develop regional air taxi networks that provide domestic transport to Ethiopia's networks of more than 140 international destinations.
Archer will deploy the first fleet of midnight aircraft to Ethiopia, in addition to a “team of Archer pilots, engineers and engineers.” These operations are supported by Archer's backend software infrastructure and customer booking applications.
The company says it will work with Ethiopia's Civil Aviation Authority to operate its midnight air taxi “efficiently and safely.”
In addition to operations that support the operation of Ethiopian airlines, the contract can also include collaborations on ecotourism flights, Archer says.
Ethiopia CEO Mesfin Tasew said the carrier is “working on pioneering advanced aviation mobility solutions that enhance connectivity in Africa and promote sustainable aviation.”
Archer and other US aviation taxi developers have yet to achieve type certification for a new class of “powerlift” aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration.
