Archer Airlines buys Hawthorne Airport for $126 million as an air taxi hub

Archer Aviation, the leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has made one of its boldest moves yet. The company agreed to acquire Hawthorne Airport for $126 million in cash.

According to Archer’s latest shareholder letter, the deal includes the remaining 30 years on the airport’s master lease and an exclusive option to acquire a controlling interest in the fixed base operator at the site, subject to city approval.

This 80-acre historic site includes approximately 190,000 square feet of terminals, office space and hangars. Its location near Los Angeles Airport and major Los Angeles destinations makes it a prime location for an air taxi network that aims to change how people move in crowded cities.

Sign up for my free CyberGuy report
Get the best tech tips, breaking security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – for free when you join my site CYBERGUY.COM Newsletter.

Pennsylvania bill seeks to legalize flying cars

Why is Hawthorne Airport important for the new air taxi network?

Archer Airlines plans to use the airport as a major operating hub for Los Angeles’ air taxi network. The company also plans to prepare the site to support transportation during the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes managing everything from takeoff scheduling to ground operations. In its letter to shareholders, Archer framed Hawthorne as a “plug-and-play” hub for its LA28 Olympic plans, saying it expects to ramp up on-site testing, storage, maintenance and shipping of the aircraft as it prepares for commercial service.

The airport will also become a testbed for the next generation of AI-powered aviation systems. These tools will help Archer develop smarter air traffic management, faster delivery times, and safer operations in crowded airspace.

Archer outlines a two-stage plan in the letter. The first phase focuses on redeveloping up to 200,000 square feet of hangar and fixed operating base control, while the second phase focuses on air traffic and ground management using artificial intelligence, sensor-embedded smart runways, and a more digital and streamlined passenger experience.

Michael Leskinen, United Airlines’ CFO, praised the move and said: “Archer’s trajectory underscores our conviction that eVTOLs are part of the next generation of air traffic technology that will fundamentally reshape aviation. Their vision for an AI-powered operations platform is not just about eVTOLs, it is also about leveraging cutting-edge technology to better enable people to move safely and efficiently in our busiest airspace. Through our investment arm United Airlines Ventures, we are investing in companies like Archer that are pioneering “In technologies that will define and support aviation infrastructure for decades to come.”

Meanwhile, Hawthorne Mayor Alex Vargas celebrated the deal on social media, writing, “Welcome Archer to the City of Hawthorne!”

Neighbors angry over ‘air taxi AI’ seizure.

Not everyone welcomes Archer’s plan to turn Hawthorne into a major hub for AI-guided flying taxis. A local group called Hawthorne Quiet Skies, made up of residents who live around the airport, says it was surprised by the $126 million acquisition, and that no one from the company or the city bothered to involve it before announcing a “test bed for AI-powered aviation technology” on homes.

Neighbors who live across the street and two blocks from the runway describe Hawthorne Airport as one of the busiest airports in the country, with homes on three sides and years of complaints about the deafening noise of planes and helicopters. The city’s 2021 noise study determined that more than 160 homes and nearly 480 people are already exposed to unhealthy noise levels, yet residents say no progress has been made on mitigation even as the airport transitions from small private aircraft to commercial traffic and is now a 24-hour electric helicopter hub.

The group is also sounding the alarm about Archer’s AI ambitions, pointing to academic research that suggests current machine learning systems in aviation still struggle to deal with unusual conditions and lack formal safety guarantees.

They argue that whatever the promise of cleaner, future air taxis, Hawthorne is being used as a live test site without clear safeguards, updated federal noise rules or any serious plan to compensate families if nonstop traffic makes their homes too loud to live in.

The first mass-produced flying car appears in China

How Archer Aviation is financing the growth and expansion of its air taxi program

Along with the airport news, Archer announced significant financial momentum. The company raised an additional $650 million in equity, boosting its total liquidity to more than $2 billion. The company’s Midnight Jet also achieved new flight milestones, including a 55-mile flight at more than 126 mph and a climb to 10,000 feet.

Archer has also expanded its global technology footprint. It has completed the acquisition of Lilium’s patent portfolio, bringing Archer’s total intellectual property to more than 1,000 global assets. These patents cover ducted fans, high-voltage systems, flight controllers and other key technologies.

International expansion is also underway. Archer has begun pilot and test flights in the UAE and secured new partnerships with Korean Air, Japan Airlines and Sumitomo’s joint venture in Osaka and Tokyo.

What does this mean for you?

Archer Airport deal indicates air taxis are moving closer to daily use. This shift could mean shorter trips across major cities in a fraction of today’s travel time. It can also bring quieter aircraft over neighborhoods compared to helicopters.

For Los Angeles residents, Hawthorne Airport may become a central point for rapid point-to-point travel once the certification process moves forward. Visitors traveling to major events such as the LA28 Olympics can see air taxis as a seamless alternative to congested highways.

Businesses may gain new options for rapid transportation across the region. The move also signals more investment and jobs in advanced aviation, automation and clean electric travel.

Take my quiz: How secure is your online security?

Do you think your devices and data are really protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get personalized analysis of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my test here: Cyberguy.com.

Click here to download the FOX NEWS app

Key takeaways for Kurt

Archer’s acquisition of Hawthorne Airport represents a major milestone in the race to build a true air taxi network, giving the company the aircraft, financing and prime location it needs to move the industry forward. Its focus on AI-driven operations shows how automated flight could soon play a much larger role in everyday life, even as regulators continue to work out how to safely integrate such aircraft into crowded cities. Meanwhile, the move has already sparked backlash from neighbors who are concerned about more noise, safety risks, and turning them into a testing site for AI-piloted planes with no real say. If Archer can win over regulators, investors and communities living just outside the fence line, the move could bring the future of urban aviation much closer, for better or worse.

If air taxis become a real option in Los Angeles by 2028, will you try one for your daily commute or stick to the ground? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Sign up for my free CyberGuy report
Get the best tech tips, breaking security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – for free when you join my site CYBERGUY.COM Newsletter.

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.