LOS ANGELES, August 25, 2026– Archer Aviation and AEG announced on Monday their plans to build Los Angeles’ first vertiport at LA LIVE, which will serve as critical infrastructure for electric air taxis before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As part of the plan, which was revealed at LA LIVE’s sports and entertainment district adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena, Archer showed off its Midnight eVTOL electric aircraft that has Team USA liveries.
As part of a multi-year partnership agreement between the two, Archer has agreed to be the air taxi partner for LA LIVE, which is AEG’s four-million-square-foot district featuring Peacock Theatre, GRAMMY Museum and other hospitality facilities. With the vertiport built, people would be able to commute directly between LA LIVE and Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
Network scope and operational goals
Archer has already mapped out a Southern California network connecting some of the largest attractions, including Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport, SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Burbank Airport, and the University of Southern California, where its recently purchased Hawthorne Airport will be the operating base. With the addition of LA LIVE, an air taxi service will now be provided in the middle of one of the busiest entertainment zones in the city and not in any airport, something which, according to the companies, will increase convenience for fans, performers, and visitors when big events are taking place.
The objective of the proposed network is to reduce the journey on the roads from an hour or more into an electric flight that will take only about 10 to 20 minutes. According to Archer, the proposed aircraft will be named Midnight, and it will be a piloted, 12-propeller eVTOL aircraft meant for short and continuous flights within the city limits. It will have a top speed of up to 150 mph and will produce zero operational emissions, along with much quieter operation than a regular helicopter.
Feasibility work and regulatory path
The development of the LA LIVE vertiport is still at a planning stage; the vertiport is not yet in operation. According to AEG and Archer, their team has successfully conducted the first feasibility study regarding land use, airspace, electric power supply, and community impact. The second stage involves the planning of operations and passenger experience. It is noteworthy that plans for the LA LIVE vertiport include the use of BETA Technologies electric aviation chargers; this move is said to help in developing standardized charging infrastructure for mass-scale electric air taxi operations.
Commercial-scale operations depend on regulations. According to Archer, their team has successfully passed Phase 3 of the FAA type certification process for Midnight and continues with Phase 4. In addition, the company is getting ready for an early start of its operations via the federal government’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. In accordance with the program, Archer can start Midnight operations in Texas, Florida, and New York as early as 2026, while Los Angeles remains behind.
LA28 showcase and downtown role
The fact that the LA LIVE project is currently being developed serves as a great target audience for Archer, which aims at creating its proposed air taxi network for Los Angeles prior to the 2028 Games. Downtown Los Angeles will become one of the focal points of LA28, since 18 Olympic and Paralympic disciplines will take place in that part of the city. In turn, Archer is recognized as the official air taxi service of LA28 and Team USA, which promises to utilize its fleet of aircraft for transportation of VIPs, fans and other stakeholders in Los Angeles during the Games.
In celebration of this event, Archer showcased the Midnight aircraft with Team USA livery at LA LIVE on Aug 24 and left it for public viewing until Aug 25. “Working with AEG on an iconic project like this vertiport at L.A. LIVE gives us the opportunity to continue building the infrastructure needed for Southern California to lead in the next era of all-electric flight,” said Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer Aviation. “We see this as a one-of-a-kind opportunity to add a flagship downtown location to our planned Los Angeles air taxi network ahead of the LA28 Games.”
Highlighting the impact on guests, Nick Baker, President and Chief Operating Officer of AEG Global Partnerships, added: “We are thrilled to pursue this endeavor with Archer to enhance the fan experience around the major sports and live-entertainment events we host. This is an ambitious project and exactly the kind of forward-thinking collaboration that blends infrastructure and technology in service of our fans, visitors, and the broader community.”
