Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s Largest Carrier, and Archer Sign Agreement to Deploy Midnight Under the "Launch Edition" Program
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to deploy an initial fleet of Midnight aircraft under Archer's 'Launch Edition' program, valued at up to $30M. This marks Ethiopian Airlines as the second customer in the program, following Abu Dhabi Aviation.
The partnership aims to establish an air taxi network in Ethiopia, with Archer providing pilots, technicians, and engineers to support the initial deployment. The companies will also explore eco-tourism opportunities. Archer will supply backend software infrastructure and front-end booking applications to support urban air mobility operations.
The Midnight aircraft, designed to carry four passengers with a pilot, aims to transform urban travel by replacing 60-90 minute car commutes with 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights. The program, announced in February 2025, focuses on creating a scalable commercialization framework for safely deploying aircraft in early adopter markets.
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) ha firmato un accordo con Ethiopian Airlines per schierare una flotta iniziale di aerei Midnight nell'ambito del programma 'Launch Edition' di Archer, del valore di fino a 30 milioni di dollari. Questo segna Ethiopian Airlines come il secondo cliente del programma, dopo Abu Dhabi Aviation.
La partnership mira a stabilire una rete di taxi aerei in Etiopia, con Archer che fornirà piloti, tecnici e ingegneri per supportare il dispiegamento iniziale. Le aziende esploreranno anche opportunità di eco-turismo. Archer fornirà infrastrutture software di backend e applicazioni di prenotazione front-end per supportare le operazioni di mobilità aerea urbana.
Gli aerei Midnight, progettati per trasportare quattro passeggeri con un pilota, mirano a trasformare i viaggi urbani sostituendo i tragitti in auto di 60-90 minuti con voli in taxi aerei elettrici di 10-20 minuti. Il programma, annunciato a febbraio 2025, si concentra sulla creazione di un framework di commercializzazione scalabile per il dispiegamento sicuro degli aerei nei mercati dei primi adottatori.
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) ha firmado un acuerdo con Ethiopian Airlines para desplegar una flota inicial de aeronaves Midnight bajo el programa 'Launch Edition' de Archer, valorado en hasta 30 millones de dólares. Esto convierte a Ethiopian Airlines en el segundo cliente del programa, después de Abu Dhabi Aviation.
La asociación tiene como objetivo establecer una red de taxis aéreos en Etiopía, con Archer proporcionando pilotos, técnicos e ingenieros para apoyar el despliegue inicial. Las empresas también explorarán oportunidades de ecoturismo. Archer proporcionará infraestructura de software de backend y aplicaciones de reserva de frontend para apoyar las operaciones de movilidad aérea urbana.
Las aeronaves Midnight, diseñadas para transportar a cuatro pasajeros con un piloto, buscan transformar los viajes urbanos al reemplazar los desplazamientos en automóvil de 60-90 minutos con vuelos en taxi aéreo eléctrico de 10-20 minutos. El programa, anunciado en febrero de 2025, se centra en crear un marco de comercialización escalable para el despliegue seguro de aeronaves en los mercados de primeros adoptantes.
아처 항공 (NYSE: ACHR)는 에티오피아 항공과 '런치 에디션' 프로그램의 일환으로 초기 미드나이트 항공기 함대를 배치하기 위한 계약을 체결했으며, 이 계약은 최대 3000만 달러의 가치를 지닙니다. 이는 아부다비 항공에 이어 프로그램의 두 번째 고객으로 에티오피아 항공을 의미합니다.
이번 파트너십은 에티오피아에 항공 택시 네트워크를 구축하는 것을 목표로 하며, 아처는 초기 배치를 지원하기 위해 파일럿, 기술자 및 엔지니어를 제공합니다. 두 회사는 또한 생태 관광 기회를 탐색할 것입니다. 아처는 도시 항공 모빌리티 운영을 지원하기 위해 백엔드 소프트웨어 인프라와 프론트엔드 예약 애플리케이션을 제공합니다.
미드나이트 항공기는 파일럿과 함께 4명의 승객을 수송하도록 설계되었으며, 60-90분의 자동차 통근을 10-20분의 전기 항공 택시 비행으로 대체하여 도시 여행을 혁신하는 것을 목표로 합니다. 2025년 2월에 발표된 이 프로그램은 초기 수용 시장에서 항공기를 안전하게 배치하기 위한 확장 가능한 상업화 프레임워크를 만드는 데 중점을 두고 있습니다.
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) a signé un accord avec Ethiopian Airlines pour déployer une flotte initiale d'avions Midnight dans le cadre du programme 'Launch Edition' d'Archer, d'une valeur allant jusqu'à 30 millions de dollars. Cela fait d'Ethiopian Airlines le deuxième client du programme, après Abu Dhabi Aviation.
Le partenariat vise à établir un réseau de taxis aériens en Éthiopie, Archer fournissant des pilotes, des techniciens et des ingénieurs pour soutenir le déploiement initial. Les entreprises exploreront également des opportunités d'écotourisme. Archer fournira l'infrastructure logicielle de backend et les applications de réservation front-end pour soutenir les opérations de mobilité aérienne urbaine.
Les avions Midnight, conçus pour transporter quatre passagers avec un pilote, visent à transformer les voyages urbains en remplaçant les trajets en voiture de 60 à 90 minutes par des vols en taxi aérien électrique de 10 à 20 minutes. Le programme, annoncé en février 2025, se concentre sur la création d'un cadre de commercialisation évolutif pour le déploiement sécurisé des avions sur les marchés des premiers adoptants.
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) hat eine Vereinbarung mit Ethiopian Airlines unterzeichnet, um eine erste Flotte von Midnight-Flugzeugen im Rahmen des 'Launch Edition'-Programms von Archer bereitzustellen, das bis zu 30 Millionen Dollar wert ist. Dies macht Ethiopian Airlines zum zweiten Kunden im Programm, nach Abu Dhabi Aviation.
Die Partnerschaft zielt darauf ab, ein Lufttaxisystem in Äthiopien aufzubauen, wobei Archer Piloten, Techniker und Ingenieure bereitstellt, um die anfängliche Bereitstellung zu unterstützen. Die Unternehmen werden auch Möglichkeiten im Bereich Ökotourismus erkunden. Archer wird Backend-Softwareinfrastruktur und Frontend-Buchungsanwendungen bereitstellen, um die städtischen Luftmobilitätsoperationen zu unterstützen.
Die Midnight-Flugzeuge, die für den Transport von vier Passagieren und einem Piloten konzipiert sind, zielen darauf ab, städtische Reisen zu revolutionieren, indem sie 60-90-minütige Autofahrten durch 10-20-minütige elektrische Lufttaxiflüge ersetzen. Das Programm, das im Februar 2025 angekündigt wurde, konzentriert sich auf die Schaffung eines skalierbaren Kommerzialisierungsrahmens für den sicheren Einsatz von Flugzeugen in den Märkten der frühen Anwender.
- Secured new $30M Launch Edition agreement with major airline
- Second customer acquisition for Launch Edition program shows market traction
- Expansion into African market opens new revenue opportunities
- Company will provide comprehensive operational support reducing implementation risks
- Initial deployment requires significant resource investment in personnel and infrastructure
- Revenue generation timeline uncertain as deployment schedule not specified
Insights
Archer Aviation's $30 million agreement with Ethiopian Airlines marks a significant commercial milestone that expands their Midnight eVTOL aircraft deployment into Africa. This represents their second customer under the February-launched "Launch Edition" program, following Abu Dhabi Aviation, demonstrating accelerating market adoption.
The partnership's structure is particularly strategic - Archer isn't merely selling aircraft but providing a comprehensive solution including pilots, technicians, engineers, software infrastructure, and booking applications. This turnkey approach addresses critical adoption barriers while allowing Archer to build operational expertise and generate early revenue.
For Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier with service to over 140 international destinations, this partnership enables them to pioneer advanced air mobility in an underserved market where traditional infrastructure limitations make eVTOL technology especially valuable. The exploration of eco-tourism applications alongside urban air taxi services demonstrates market-specific adaptation that could accelerate adoption.
While the financial impact is modest relative to Archer's $4.7 billion market capitalization, the strategic significance is substantial. This agreement validates their commercialization framework, demonstrates international market traction, and establishes a foothold in a continent with significant long-term growth potential for innovative transportation solutions.
This agreement represents a strategic market entry approach for both companies. For Archer, Ethiopia provides an ideal proving ground with potentially streamlined regulatory pathways compared to more developed aviation markets. The $30 million "Launch Edition" program structure gives Archer significant operational control during early deployment - critical for quality assurance and performance data collection with a novel aircraft type.
For Ethiopian Airlines, this partnership offers a competitive advantage through transportation innovation, potentially leapfrogging traditional infrastructure constraints that limit ground transportation expansion. The multi-phase approach - focusing initially on air taxi networks while exploring eco-tourism applications - demonstrates pragmatic market development strategy.
The comprehensive support package from Archer (including pilots, technicians and engineers) creates what is effectively a joint operational venture rather than a simple vendor-customer relationship. This addresses the significant challenge of specialized talent acquisition that would otherwise impede adoption while giving Archer valuable real-world operational experience.
The U.S. Embassy's endorsement signals potential diplomatic support that could ease regulatory pathways - a significant advantage in a new market. While implementation timelines remain unspecified, this agreement represents meaningful commercial traction for Archer's Midnight aircraft, designed for 10-20 minute flights with minimal charging time between trips, replacing hour-long car commutes with efficient aerial transportation.
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Archer announced today that it has signed an agreement outlining plans to deploy an initial fleet of Midnight aircraft to Africa’s largest carrier and Star Alliance member, Ethiopian Airlines, under Archer’s “Launch Edition” program valued at up to
$30M -
The companies will work together to over time build an air taxi network in the region, with Archer planning to provide Ethiopian Airlines with a team of pilots, technicians, and engineers to support the initial deployment of these early launch edition Midnight aircraft in
Ethiopia . - While the two companies will primarily focus on developing an air taxi network in the region, they will also explore other use cases, including eco-tourism.
Archer announces that it has signed an agreement outlining plans to deploy an initial fleet of Midnight aircraft to Africa’s largest carrier and Star Alliance member, Ethiopian Airlines, under Archer’s “Launch Edition” program valued at up to
Archer announced the Launch Edition program in February 2025 in an effort to create a scalable commercialization framework for safely deploying aircraft in early adopter markets, enabling the company to demonstrate the capabilities of its Midnight aircraft, drive public acceptance, build operational experience and generate early revenue.
Archer plans to deploy an initial fleet of Midnight “Launch Edition” aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines with a team of Archer pilots, technicians, and engineers to support this initial deployment. Archer also plans to provide backend software infrastructure and front-end booking applications to help power urban air mobility operations during the Launch Edition program.
While Archer and Ethiopian Airlines will primarily focus on developing an air taxi network in the region using Midnight, the two are also exploring using Midnight for a broader range of use cases, including eco-tourism.
Archer and Ethiopian Airlines formalized this partnership during a signing ceremony this week in
Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said, “We are committed to pioneering advanced air mobility solutions that enhance connectivity and drive sustainable aviation in
Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said, “Last month we announced Abu Dhabi Aviation as our first Launch Edition customer—today we’re following that up with our second, Ethiopian Airlines.
Alastair Curtis, General Manager,
“U.S. aviation companies have time and again highlighted the best of American quality and innovation, and we’re excited at the opportunity for Archer to make an impact in the region while making America more prosperous through its new agreement with Ethiopian Airlines,” said Nathan Stickney, Commercial Attaché,
Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10–20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back trips with minimal charge time between flights.
About Archer
Archer is designing and developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation. To learn more, visit www.archer.com.
About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is a true African success story, transforming a visionary dream into a globally renowned reality for nearly eight decades. Ethiopian Airlines is committed to environmental sustainability through continuous investment in modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, innovative green initiatives, and sustainable aviation practices. As Africa’s leading airline, Ethiopian prioritizes reducing carbon emissions, enhancing operational efficiency, and implementing eco-friendly solutions across its operations. From embracing cutting-edge technology to driving reforestation projects, Ethiopian remains dedicated to building a greener future for global aviation. For more information, please visit www.ethiopianairlines.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward looking statements regarding Archer’s business plans and expectations, including statements regarding Archer’s aircraft performance, the development, certification, manufacturing and commercialization of its aircraft, the expected benefits, amount and timing of anticipated revenue and scalability of the “Launch Edition” commercialization program and associated deployment of aircraft, anticipated use cases for Archer’s aircraft, business opportunities, planned infrastructure and operations in the customer’s geographic regions, and international expansion. In addition, this press release refers to an agreement that is conditioned on the future execution by the parties of additional binding definitive agreements incorporating the terms outlined in this agreement, which definitive agreements may not be completed or may contain different terms than those set forth in this agreement. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed in Archer’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is or will be available at www.sec.gov. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that Archer believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Archer undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.
Source: Archer Aviation
Text: ArcherIR
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Archer Media Contact
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Source: Archer Aviation
FAQ
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