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Southwest Airways Co. (NYSE: LUV) and Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop operational plans for electrical air taxi networks using Archer’s eVTOL plane at California airports the place Southwest® operates. Archer Aviation is a number one producer of electrical vertical takeoff and touchdown (eVTOL) plane.
Southwest is the Golden State’s largest air service, working at 14 airports throughout the state. Archer Midnight plane is designed to remodel city journey, changing 60-to-90-minute commutes by automobile with estimated 10-to-20-minute electrical air taxi flights. The objective of Archer’s plane is to supply a secure, low-noise, cost-competitive transportation possibility with no direct emissions.
Southwest and Archer intend to collaborate on an idea of operations that lays the inspiration for built-in electrical air taxi networks that will help California airports and the encircling communities that Southwest serves. This collaboration will embody partnering with Southwest staff and respective unions, together with SWAPA, to take care of and enhance environment friendly operations. It is a key step towards doubtlessly providing Southwest prospects an airport transport service that saves time by streamlining the door-to-door passenger journey.
“Southwest is eager to explore the convenience Archer’s air taxis could provide Customers flying Southwest at airports in busy urban areas,” stated Paul Cullen, Vice President Actual Property at Southwest Airways. “We’ve proudly served as California’s largest carrier for nearly 25 years, and integrating Archer’s electric aircraft into the travel journey potentially gives us an innovative opportunity to enhance the experience of flying Southwest. We look forward to collaborating with Archer as we assess future commercial activities in California and other Southwest locations.”
“Archer’s collaboration with Southwest to introduce air taxis in California showcases our state’s dedication to climate innovation and advanced technology,” stated Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Workplace of Enterprise and Financial Growth. “This initiative is designed to help revolutionize clean transportation with zero-direct emission and affordable options, enhancing the passenger experience, and supporting California’s climate action goals.”
“With Archer’s Midnight aircraft, passengers will be able to fly above traffic to get to the airport faster,” stated Nikhil Goel, Chief Business Officer at Archer. “By putting together Southwest’s impressive network of airports in California and their frequent intrastate flights with our planned network, Southwest customers could someday complete door-to-door trips like Santa Monica to Napa in less than three hours.”
Archer and Southwest plan to collaborate over the following few years as eVTOLs take flight. Combining Archer’s plane and deliberate city air mobility community with Southwest flights may supply an enhanced expertise for the primary and final miles of the client journey journey.
ABOUT ARCHER
Archer is a pacesetter within the electrification of aviation. The corporate is designing and creating the important thing enabling applied sciences and plane which are essential to energy the following nice transportation revolution. Archer’s objective is for its proprietary know-how to ship unprecedented connectivity to the individuals and locations throughout essentially the most congested cities on this planet. To be taught extra, go to www.archer.com.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
Southwest Airways Co. operates one of many world’s most admired and awarded airways, providing its one-of-a-kind worth and Hospitality at 121 airports 1 throughout 11 international locations. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky via pleasant, dependable, and low-cost air journey and now carries extra air vacationers flying nonstop inside america than some other airline 2 . Based mostly in Dallas and well-known for an Worker-first company Tradition, Southwest maintains an unprecedented document of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its historical past. By empowering its greater than 74,000 3 Individuals to ship unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty amongst greater than 137 million Clients carried in 2023. That components for achievement introduced industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years 4 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a novel legacy and mission to serve communities all over the world together with harnessing the facility of its Individuals and Function to place communities on the Coronary heart of its success. Study extra by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. Because the airline with Coronary heart, Southwest has set a objective to work towards attaining web zero carbon emissions by 20505. Southwest has additionally set near-term targets and a three-pillar technique to attain its environmental targets. Study extra by visiting Southwest.com/planet.
1Efficient Aug. 5, 2024, the airline will serve 117 airports.
2Based mostly on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Vacation spot Survey since Q1 2021
3Fulltime-equivalent energetic Workers
41973-2019 annual profitability
5Southwest’s web zero by 2050 objective consists of Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Class 3 emissions solely and excludes any emissions related to non-fuel services, akin to inflight service gadgets.
Supply: Archer
