In the pre-pandemic, the main focus of airlines was to invest in sustainable aviation (probably due to social pressure). This came in the form of carbon offset flights, as well as a commitment to invest in more sustainable forms of aviation.
Well, United Airlines has just announced its first plans to operate electric planes, although it’s not what you think, and the headline almost says it could be a April Fool’s joke.
United Airlines will invest in Archer, buy 200 electric taxis
United Airlines announced plans to work with air mobility company Archer as part of a broader effort to invest in emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel.
Rather than relying on traditional combustion engines, Archer’s electric take-off and vertical landing aircraft are designed to use electric motors and have the potential for future use as “air taxis” in urban markets.
With current technology, Archer aircraft are designed to travel distances of up to 60 miles, at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. The plan is for future models to travel faster and faster. Archer’s plan is to launch between Hollywood and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and it is estimated that it could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 47% per passenger.
Under United’s agreement with Archer:
- United will contribute its airspace management expertise to assist Archer in the development of battery powered short-haul aircraft
- Once the aircraft is in operation and meets United’s operational and commercial requirements, United will acquire a fleet of up to 200 of these electric aircraft that would operate for Mesa Airlines
- These planes would be intended to provide customers with “a fast, economical and low-carbon way to reach United’s central airports and travel in dense urban environments over the next five years”
United Airlines says that this investment in Archer will improve the customer experience and achieve a strong financial return. As United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby describes this investment:
“Part of how United is going to fight global warming is by adopting emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel. By working with Archer, United is showing the aviation industry that now is the time to adopt cleaner and more efficient means of transport. With the right technology, we can contain the impact that aircraft have on the planet, but we have to identify the next generation of companies that will make this a reality from the start and find ways to help them take off. Archer’s eVTOL project, a manufacturing model and engineering experience has the clear potential to change the way people move around the world’s major metropolitan cities ”
I think United’s investment in Archer is cool, but …
I have a few different thoughts here, and it’s usually a nice concept.
In the first place, this seems like an unusual extension for an airline that invests in sustainable aviation. These are not substitutes for jets, but substitutes for cars and helicopters. United and Mesa have placed an order for these planes, so will United Express start operating transportation from cities to airports? If so, will there be first class, how will the elite benefit and how many miles will need to be redeemed for a flight? 😉
Next, I’m not sure if I really believe this is objectively good for the environment. Of course, emissions here are lower than in a helicopter, so if that is the alternative, I suppose it is true. Yet:
- The claim is that CO2 emissions are lower than in cars, but cars are increasingly electric, so it’s not really fair to compare today’s gas cars to an air taxi that will only operate several years later, when more cars will be electric as well
- Emission statistics do not take into account that people will have to reach the starting points of air taxis and that, presumably, emissions reduction is based on these taxis always flying full, which is unlikely to be the case
- With $ 5 million per frame plus operating costs, seats will not be particularly cheap, not to mention that there will be limits on how many of them can operate at any point; in other words, they will not fully replace cars and will somehow become the way that everyone arrives at airports
So yes, this is definitely an improvement in every way compared to helicopters, but helicopters are not like most people arrive at airports.
It makes me believe that United’s main motivation here is to think that Archer is a good financial investment. Archer plans to go public, and United has invested an undisclosed amount in the company. While we don’t know how much money United is investing now (presumably a lot of money will be paid in the future), isn’t United’s perspective spending money on it while receiving billions in taxpayer support bad?
Result
United Airlines is investing in Archer and has placed an order for 200 electric air taxis. Although they look like great alternatives to helicopters, I can’t help but find everything else about it a little strange.
Is United trying to compete with Uber and Blade? Is it really about the environment, because if it comes to reducing emissions on the way to airports, does it look like electric cars would be more useful and affordable? And is this really the time for an airline to promote that it is investing $ 1 billion in something it believes will “have a strong financial return”, since it has just withdrawn billions of dollars in taxpayer funds?
What do you think of United’s investment in Archer and the order for 200 electric air taxis?