US-based Archer Aviation and Lufthansa Group’s ITA Airways have signed an agreement to develop an all-electric air taxi network in Italy, according to Airports International.

Using Archer’s Midnight aircraft, the partners plan to deploy air taxi services in major Italian cities. The aircraft is designed for rapid back-to-back flights with zero operating emissions. The aim is to replace drives of 60 to 90 minutes with quiet electric flights of 10 to 20 minutes.

For example, an hour-long road trip from Fiumicino Airport to central Rome could take less than 10 minutes by Midnight.

Archer said Midnight recently showed it can operate in complex urban airspace, completing several days of piloted flights in the Bay Area. These included multiple flights from Oakland to San Francisco’s Marina District in about 10 minutes.

ITA Airways chief executive officer and general manager Joerg Eberhart said the airline wants to play a pioneering role in advanced air mobility.

“This agreement with Archer represents an important step in assessing how electric air taxi services could complement our network and enhance connections between airports, city centres and other strategic destinations,” he said.

He added that ITA Airways is exploring different solutions to identify the best possible product for its customers.

Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world, noting that Rome Fiumicino crossed 50 million passengers last year for the first time.

“Italy has the regulatory leadership, the infrastructure, and now the airline partner to make air taxis a reality,” he said.

ITA Airways aims to act as a catalyst for innovation in Italy’s advanced air mobility ecosystem by bringing together experts and stakeholders. Its role will focus on an integrated customer journey and connecting the new service with its network, working alongside specialised partners responsible for operations.

Source: Airports International