Archer Aviation has signed an agreement with Italian flag carrier ITA Airways, regarding the development of electric air taxi services across Italy. The partnership aims to establish a network of short-duration routes using the Archer Midnight aircraft, making ITA the first European airline to enter an agreement with the U.S. based aerospace technology company.
What Has Been Agreed?
Archer Aviation has announced that it will work with ITA Airways to identify and develop air taxi routes across Italy’s major cities. The proposed services would reportedly be between 10 to 20 minutes in duration, allowing tourists to travel quickly between airports and city centres.
The electrically powered Archer Midnight aircraft is designed to provide lower-emission journeys compared with petrol cars.
The CEO of ITA Airways, Joerg Eberhart, said that:
“This agreement with Archer represents an important step in assessing how electric air taxi services could complement our network and enhance connections between airports, city centres and other strategic destinations.”
Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), ITA’s main hub, was listed as a potential location for the air taxis deployment.
How Important is ITA Airways to Archer Aviation?
ITA Airways is the first European carrier to sign a formal agreement with Archer Aviation.
The company has already signed order agreements with U.S. based United Airlines, as well as South Korean flag carrier, Korean Air.
Although ITA is 59% owned by the Italian state, it is part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s second largest group of airlines, and a member of the Star Alliance. These connections could help Archer to expand its future presence across Europe.
Archer CEO Adam Goldstein said:
“Italy has the regulatory leadership, the infrastructure, and now the airline partner to make air taxis a reality.”
He also cited the high passenger volumes at FCO as a potential driver to maximising Archer’s future consumer base. The airport handled 50 million travellers in 2025, making it Europe’s eight busiest airport.
When Might Air Taxi Services Begin?
Archer has previously indicated that its Midnight aircraft will be ready for commercial use in late 2026 or early 2027.
The Archer Midnight completed a test flight between Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS) and Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) in August 2026, which was supervised by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It also reportedly completed a series of successful test flights around the San Francisco Bay Area on Oct. 19, 2026.
Archer has previously said that it hopes to use the Midnight to taxi visitors during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, pending FAA approval.
Would you want to fly on the Archer Midnight? Will the partnership with ITA Airways help the company grow? Let us know what you think in the comments.
