Electric air taxi developer Archer Aviation has announced plans to acquire Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles for $126 million, positioning it as the company’s operational base for its future LA air taxi network and a test centre for AI-powered aviation technologies.
The privately owned airport, located less than three miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), sits close to some of the city’s key destinations, including SoFi Stadium, The Forum, Intuit Dome, and Downtown LA. Archer described the acquisition as the purchase of a “one-of-a-kind aviation asset” and said it would play a “strategic role” in the company’s long-term urban air mobility ambitions.
The California-based company plans to use the site not only as an operations hub but also as a testbed for its AI-driven flight and airspace management systems, which it is developing in partnership with leading airlines and technology firms.
United Airlines’ Chief Financial Officer, Michael Leskinen, praised the move, saying: “Archer’s trajectory validates our conviction that eVTOLs are part of the next generation of air traffic technology that will fundamentally reshape aviation.
“Their vision for an AI-enabled operations platform isn’t just about eVTOLs — it’s about leveraging cutting-edge technology to move people safely and efficiently through our most congested airspaces.”
United, through its investment arm United Airlines Ventures, has been a major backer of Archer, which is one of the leading developers of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Archer said it has raised $650 million in new equity, bringing its total liquidity to over $2 billion.
The company also reported key progress on its Midnight aircraft, which has now achieved flights exceeding 50 miles in range and altitudes of 10,000 feet.