US electric aircraft manufacturer Archer Aviation has announced the purchase of Hawthorne Municipal Airport in Los Angeles for $126 million. The acquisition provides Archer with a strategic base to develop and test its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, supporting plans to launch passenger operations before the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The airport, situated within close proximity to Los Angeles International Airport, spans approximately 80 acres and includes terminal, office, and hangar facilities. Archer envisions transforming the site into a hub for urban air mobility, enabling the testing and deployment of AI-driven air traffic control technologies in collaboration with airline partners.
Archer has been developing its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, Midnight, and intends to leverage the new operations base to accelerate certification and service launch. The company is bolstered by over $1.6 billion in liquidity but faces delays in certification timelines and ongoing financial losses, which challenge the timeline for operational start.
The strategic move to acquire Hawthorne aligns with Archer’s broader goal of establishing a transportation network supporting the 2028 Olympics and urban transit within Los Angeles. The company plans to work with existing airline partners like United Airlines to realize its vision of a sustainable, electrified air taxi service for dense urban environments.
