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Home » United Airlines » United Airlines Eyes 200 Electric Aircraft
United Airlines

United Airlines Eyes 200 Electric Aircraft

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 10, 2021November 14, 2023 8 Comments

a black drone with propellers

United Airlines announced that it is partnering with Archer to order a fleet of up to 200 electrical aircraft. The goal of these aircraft will be to serve as “air taxis” in urban markets, furthering United’s pledge to decarbonize air travel…and hopefully turn a profit as well.

United Airlines Plans For Up To 200 Electric Aircraft To Serve As Air Taxis

Archer has produced an aircraft prototype that will travel up to 60 miles at 150 miles per hour. It will utilize eVTOL technology to offer vertical takeoffs and landings. The hope is that these aircraft can offer a “quick, economical, and low carbon way to get to United’s hub airports and commute in dense urban environments within the next five years.” Archer is working on improving both the range and speed of its aircraft.

Under the new partnership, United will contribute its “expertise in airspace management” to assist Archer with the development of battery-powered, short-haul aircraft. In exchange, United and Mesa, its United Express subsidiary, will acquire up to 200 aircraft “once the aircraft are in operation and have met United’s operating and business requirements.”

United says this furthest two goals invest in emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel. CEO Scott Kirby noted:

“Part of how United will combat global warming is by embracing emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel. By working with Archer, United is showing the aviation industry that now is the time to embrace cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation.

“With the right technology, we can curb the impact aircraft have on the planet, but we have to identify the next generation of companies who will make this a reality early and find ways to help them get off the ground

“Archer’s eVTOL design, manufacturing model and engineering expertise has the clear potential to change how people commute within major metropolitan cities all over the world.”

Gimmick Or The Future Of Travel?

I love to see startups offers new concepts that clean our air and make travel easier. I’m totally open to this model of transport and would love to see it integrated into the United Express fleet. Further, the beauty of electric aircraft is that they are silent, which also curbs pernicious sound pollution.

I live north of downtown Los Angeles, about 25 minutes from LAX. If I had a station in Pasadena or Glendale less than 10 minutes from my house, I would embrace the concept of driving to a mini airport then taking an “air taxi” to Los Angeles.

But as much as I would embrace the concept, it’s still only 25 minutes without traffic (which is most days these days) or about 45 minutes with traffic to the airport. I cannot imagine the entire Archer process will save time if I have to land at LAX, take a shuttle to the terminal, and then clear security.

As far as I am concerned, any Los Angeles solution must include a dedicated gate in Terminal 7 or 8 and dedicated security checkpoint or else the hassle will outweigh driving. It must also be cost effective. Uber X is cheap. Gas and parking are relatively cheap. Certainly there will be a premium charged for this service, but it cannot be excessive or it will just be a vanity project.

CONCLUSION

I’m really excited about this new partnership and the potential for taxis to shift from the ground to the air. That said, there remains much to be seen whether this will be a viable transport method in the years ahead.

Your thoughts on airlines utilizing electric aircraft as part of their express operations?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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8 Comments

  1. derek Reply
    February 10, 2021 at 12:27 pm

    Did that company pay United for that press release? I cannot see United spending money for that now unless it was a non-binding commitment. I would rather United buy Hertz and Westin Hotels.

  2. derek Reply
    February 10, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    Electric aircraft are not green. It takes a lot of power to fly. Even electric SUVs are bad for the environment versus small cars powered by gasoline.

    • DTWNNYC Reply
      February 10, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      Only if the electricity to power the battery is based off burning carbon. If they are using hydro or wind power if would very green.

      • Michael Reply
        February 10, 2021 at 2:05 pm

        DTWNNYC You clearly need to look up how batteries are made and then disposed of after their life cycle….

        • DTWNNYC Reply
          February 10, 2021 at 3:25 pm

          @ Michael

          Two items,

          1) using batteries to power aircraft and how they compare with fossil fuel alternatives.

          2) Now you’ve decided to throw in manufacturing and disposal into the equation. Is making the collective parts and assembly of this aircraft more green than carbon burning alternative technologies? The jury seems to suggest yes they are. And then there is the debate on recycling Lithium batteries versus carbon dioxide emissions.

          Nobody is arguing 100% emissions free. But is it worth it if it is 15% better? 30% better?

          Let’s try and keep an open mind.

  3. Steve Reply
    February 10, 2021 at 12:59 pm

    “Further, the beauty of electric aircraft is that they are silent”

    Are we sure about this? My neighbor’s drone that weighs 10oz makes an awful high pitched hum as he hovers it over the neighborhood. Maybe above 1000 ft the sound disappears but I’m skeptical until I see a live demonstration.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 10, 2021 at 1:26 pm

      They claim to be silent on their website and if they are like a Tesla, that is 10X better. But I know there will still be propellers…

  4. 121Pilot Reply
    February 10, 2021 at 8:02 pm

    Some thoughts.

    A range of 60 miles. Does that include FAA mandated reserves? That’s another 112.5 miles at 150mph.

    I cannot see how this could be remotely cost effective given the range limitations. Also battery charging times remain a huge hurdle for something like this to overcome.

    A 6 propellor VTOL will be anything but silent. I would expect the noise levels may prove a significant impediment to local operations.

    If they are using these to conduct scheduled service to and from major airports I would very much expect the TSA to demand security screening. The costs of that I suspect will be very difficult to justify given what we are talking about here.

    All in all I don’t see a practical transportation tool here and I suspect United is involved only because they like the green publicity that comes from it.

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