‘Midnight' flying taxi begins test flights in Abu Dhabi
Archer Aviation has officially begun flight tests for its electric air taxi, Midnight, in Abu Dhabi.
'Midnight has flown in the UAE,' the company announced on X. 'We kicked off our UAE Launch Edition program today with a test flight in Abu Dhabi at Al Bateen Executive Airport.'
The initial flights aim to test how Midnight performs in local weather conditions, including high temperatures, humidity, and exposure to dust, factors common in the UAE. These evaluations are necessary to confirm if the aircraft is ready for future commercial use in the region.
The electric aircraft, which takes off and lands vertically (VTOL), is designed for short, safe air travel in urban areas.
The test flight was conducted in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, marking the start of Archer's broader plans to introduce electric air taxi services in the UAE.
Senior officials from The General Civil Aviation Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Abu Dhabi Airports attended the event. Regional partners also witnessed the milestone.
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UAE Moments
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Abu Dhabi Achieves Success in First Flying Taxi Trial
Abu Dhabi has officially entered the future of urban transport with a successful test flight of its flying taxi at Al Bateen Executive Airport on Wednesday. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! The milestone flight was announced by the US-based Archer Aviation in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), marking a major step toward the commercial launch of flying taxi services, which is expected to begin in early 2026. 'Today is the first step of many to enable the commercialisation of air taxis in Abu Dhabi and the UAE,' said Omran Malek, head of autonomous mobility and robotics at ADIO. 'We're not just launching a service, we're building an entire ecosystem around it, including pilot training, maintenance, manufacturing, and workforce development.' Testing For UAE's Unique Conditions The test flight of Archer's Midnight aircraft featured a vertical takeoff and landing, designed to evaluate performance in the UAE's challenging summer conditions, high temperatures, humidity, and dust. Dr Talib Alhinai, manager of Archer Aviation UAE, explained: 'Our initial flight tests are all about validating the aircraft's readiness for the UAE's environment. Once that's complete, we can move confidently into the commercial phase.' More tests are planned over the summer to further study the aircraft's durability in local conditions. Building The Future of Urban Mobility Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are racing to launch flying taxis, with Joby Aviation also conducting a successful test in Dubai earlier this week. Abu Dhabi, however, is taking a comprehensive approach by developing the necessary infrastructure, including vertiports, airspace integration, and local manufacturing facilities. According to Malek, Archer plans to begin manufacturing the flying taxis in Al Ain by 2027, with plans to export them to other countries as interest grows in the region. Affordable and Accessible Contrary to popular belief, flying taxis won't just be for luxury travelers. Malek reassured that the service is being designed to be affordable for the public: 'As we build more vertiports and increase the number of aircraft, the price will scale down, making it practical for daily use.' In the initial commercial phase, a small fleet of aircraft will operate in Abu Dhabi, with the service gradually expanding as the supporting ecosystem matures. With the first commercial flights targeted for early 2026, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a global leader in urban air mobility, not just testing the future but building it.
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Filipino Times
‘Midnight' flying taxi begins test flights in Abu Dhabi
The future is here! Archer Aviation has officially begun flight tests for its electric air taxi, Midnight, in Abu Dhabi. 'Midnight has flown in the UAE,' the company announced on X. 'We kicked off our UAE Launch Edition program today with a test flight in Abu Dhabi at Al Bateen Executive Airport.' The initial flights aim to test how Midnight performs in local weather conditions, including high temperatures, humidity, and exposure to dust, factors common in the UAE. These evaluations are necessary to confirm if the aircraft is ready for future commercial use in the region. The electric aircraft, which takes off and lands vertically (VTOL), is designed for short, safe air travel in urban areas. The test flight was conducted in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, marking the start of Archer's broader plans to introduce electric air taxi services in the UAE. Senior officials from The General Civil Aviation Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Abu Dhabi Airports attended the event. Regional partners also witnessed the milestone.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
a day ago
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The Abu Dhabi flying taxis have started testing in the UAE
It's time to get excited – Abu Dhabi flying taxis are coming in faster than you can say 'takeoff'. Just a few weeks ago, the Abu Dhabi Aviation Group announced a strategic collaboration with Archer to deploy its first eVTOL aircraft, Midnight, from Abu Dhabi. And now? Tests in the UAE have officially begun… The Abu Dhabi flying taxis have flown in Abu Dhabi Archer, the company responsible for the Abu Dhabi flying taxis, have announced that they have had their first test flight in Abu Dhabi. Before flying in the UAE, the aircraft was successfully tested in California – and you can actually see the whole video on YouTube. So when will the Abu Dhabi flying taxis be operational? Test flights of Midnight have begun. These will check the impact of the UAE's extreme summer temperatures on the aircraft and within the cabin before the flying taxi services officially launch. The Archer team have also scoped out potential routes in Abu Dhabi. Talib Alhinai, UAE general manager at Archer, told Time Out Abu Dhabi: ''We flew over Abu Dhabi for a route assessment for Archer's upcoming electric air taxi service launch in Abu Dhabi. We were focused on understanding the real customer experience. What would these routes look like? How would travellers see our city from this new perspective? The views are incredible. You're not just travelling, you're getting a completely new way of seeing Abu Dhabi.' Check out the amazing views below in footage supplied by Archer – they weren't wrong… Previously, Archer Aviation's chief commercial officer Nikhil Goel told Forbes: 'There are hundreds of cities that want air taxis. Abu Dhabi will be first, and that will be a lighthouse to the world to say, these air taxis are safe. From there, I hope that we can build the centre of the Middle East here and from that, you've got other countries across the Gulf Cooperation Council.' How will the Abu Dhabi flying taxis work? Archer's Midnight eVTOL aircraft will be able to carry up to four passengers, plus a pilot, at speeds of up to 241 km/h. For instance, you'll be able to get from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Emirates Palace in just 5 to 8 minutes – an upgrade from the typical 45-minute car ride. They're also fully electric and can operate back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between. Credit: Archer How much will a flying taxi journey cost? While nothing is confirmed yet, Archer's CCO Nikhil Goel revealed potential prices in an interview with The National, saying it will be priced 'similarly to an Uber Black or a premium town car'. Inner city flights in Abu Dhabi : Dhs300 – Dhs350. : Dhs300 – Dhs350. Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Dhs800 – Dhs1,500. 'And then over time when we make our operations more efficient, our goal is to be comparable to the price of a taxi or an Uber', Nikhil Goel added. We're keeping a close eye on all the Abu Dhabi flying taxi updates, so stay tuned. Living in the UAE When is the next public holiday? Here's when you'll have your next day off 5 unexpected Emirates ID perks you should seriously be using And yes, they all make our lives a little bit easier 12 brilliant day trips from Abu Dhabi for when you need to escape the city And some of them are free
