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When electric vertical take-off and landing developer Archer Aviation revealed plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, it also announced a conditional order from United Airlines worth $1 billion. Archer’s press release at the time said its eVTOLs could give United customers “a quick, economic and low-emission way to get to airports within its major hubs by 2024,” with the airline estimating that using one of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 50% per passenger on a trip between Hollywood and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
“By working with Archer,” United CEO Scott Kirby proclaimed in the press release, “United is showing the aviation industry that now is the time to embrace cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation.”
Even as Archer’s certification program fell far behind its original schedule, the company’s relationship with United remained strong. Which is why, on March 24, Archer’s Midnight eVTOL was on prominent display at the airline’s media day in Los Angeles when Kirby torpedoed the ostensible foundation of their partnership.
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