Ethiopian Airlines has partnered with Archer Aviation to bring an all-electric air taxi network to the region.

The deal makes Ethiopian Airlines the second customer under Archer’s ‘Launch Edition’ programme, following Abu Dhabi Aviation.

Archer’s Midnight aircraft is a piloted four-passenger electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle designed for short, efficient urban flights.

Ethiopian Airlines and Archer will collaborate with the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority to integrate Midnight into the country’s airspace, with a focus on urban air mobility and eco-tourism.

As part of the agreement, Archer will deploy an initial fleet of Midnight aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines along with a team of pilots, technicians, and engineers. The company will also provide software infrastructure and booking applications to support operations.

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60- to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise and cost-competitive with ground transportation.

The Midnight aircraft is designed to perform rapid back-to-back trips with minimal charge time between flights.