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Archer Aviation announced Monday it was teaming up with Falcon Aviation, an aviation services provider in the UAE, to develop a vertiport network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Falcon Aviation was selected as the vertiport infrastructure partner to help bring critical infrastructure ahead of the launch of flying car operations in the UAE.
With this partnership, Archer and Falcon Aviation will begin developing state-of-the-art vertiport infrastructure at the Falcon Heliport at Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai and the Marina Mall helicopter in Abu Dhabi's Corniche. It can take commuters more than two hours to drive between the two cities during peak traffic hours and Archer and Falcon Aviation are planning to offer passenger services in Archer's Midnight flying cr between the two Falcon vertiports. These vertiports will operate entirely over water with stunning views of the two cities, clocking in in as little as 30 minutes from takeoff to landing. Archer says it is the first to announce a flying car service on this route between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
"Partnering with established operators such as Falcon Aviation, as well as the capital of the Emirates with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, has been key to quickly building our presence in the region," Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said. "We look forward to paving the way for the introduction of our Midnight aircraft to the region which will set the stage for the UAE to become a global leader in urban air mobility."
On March 8 Falcon launched the upgraded Falcon Tours Heliport Terminal at the Atlantis. The Palm provides helicopter charter service to both locals and tourists to travel between the luxury hotel and other key destinations, including Abu Dhabi, as well as sightseeing trips. The companies plan for the hub to serve the Midnight aircraft as early as next year. The Midnight will offer a quieter, safer and more affordable option than helicopters. The infrastructure partnership has reaffirmed the collaboration agreement signed last year by Falcon to operate a fleet of Midnight aircraft and expand the urban air mobility ecosystem in the UAE for both companies.
"For nearly two decades, Falcon Aviation has been at the forefront of helicopter passenger transport in the UAE," Falcon Aviation CEO Captain Ramandeep Oberoi said. "Our partnership with Archer is a leap into the future, as we prepare to offer flying car services together in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, continuing our tradition of world-class transportation solutions."
This is part of Archer's strategic expansion plans, with the UAE set to be its first international launch market as soon as next year. This also follows a significant preliminary deal announced by Archer last year with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office that promised economic incentives to aid in accelerating the company's growth in the region as part of Abu Dhabi's Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry Cluster.
"We have made rapid progress in the UAE over the past three months since announcing Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be home to our first international Midnight flights as soon as 2025," Archer CCO Nikhil Goel said. "We're proud to be the first to announce plans to operate between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with vertiport infrastructure at both ends of the commuter journey."