- Archer Aviation and AEG are partnering to develop a planned electric air taxi vertiport at L.A. LIVE, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015.
- The facility would become the first announced downtown Los Angeles vertiport, providing a launch and landing point for Archer's four-passenger Midnight aircraft.
- Archer would serve as the exclusive air taxi provider for L.A. LIVE, with the network being developed ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- An initial feasibility study has already examined land use, airspace, power availability and community impact, while the project moves into operational and passenger-experience planning.
What The L.A. LIVE Vertiport Will Bring To Downtown
Archer Aviation and AEG are planning a new electric air taxi vertiport at L.A. LIVE, creating a potential new transportation hub in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The proposed facility would serve Archer's Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, giving passengers a way to travel directly to and from the four-million-square-foot L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment district. The complex sits next to Crypto.com Arena and includes venues, restaurants, bars, hospitality and entertainment destinations that attract millions of visitors. Under the multi-year partnership, Archer will be the exclusive air taxi provider for L.A. LIVE. The location would also become part of the company's broader Los Angeles network, connecting the downtown district with other planned air taxi hubs.
What Archer Says About The Downtown Location
Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said the partnership gives the company an opportunity to establish a major downtown location as it builds out its Southern California network.
"We see this as a one-of-a-kind opportunity to add a flagship downtown location to our planned Los Angeles air taxi network ahead of the LA28 Games. Working with AEG on an iconic project like this vertiport at L.A. LIVE gives us the opportunity to continue building the infrastructure needed for Southern California to lead in the next era of all-electric flight."
AEG Global Partnerships President and COO Nick Baker said the project is intended to improve the experience for people attending major sporting and entertainment events at L.A. LIVE.
"This is an ambitious project and exactly the kind of forward-thinking collaboration that blends infrastructure and technology in service of our fans, visitors, and the broader community."
What The Air Taxi Network Could Mean For LA28
The vertiport is being developed with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a major milestone. Archer is the official air taxi provider for LA28 and Team USA, and the company plans to use its aircraft to transport VIPs, fans and other travelers around Los Angeles during the Games. The company says Midnight is designed for short urban trips, with planned routes potentially taking around 10 to 20 minutes, compared with journeys that can take an hour or longer by car. Archer has already demonstrated the time-saving potential of the aircraft, including a recent California city-to-city flight in which each leg took roughly nine minutes compared with more than 35 minutes by car. The L.A. LIVE site would add a central downtown destination to a network that is also planned to include:
- Los Angeles International Airport
- SoFi Stadium
- USC
- Hollywood Burbank Airport
Archer's recently acquired Hawthorne Airport is expected to serve as a central operational hub.
What The Vertiport Will Need Before Opening
Archer and AEG have already completed an initial feasibility study covering land use, airspace, available electrical power and community impact. The next phase is focused on the site's operational approach and passenger experience. The planned vertiport will also use BETA Technologies electric aviation chargers as part of a broader effort to establish standardized charging infrastructure for electric aviation. That work is important because the project is not simply a landing pad. It will require infrastructure for charging, passenger movement, aircraft operations and integration with the surrounding L.A. LIVE district.
What Archer's FAA Certification Means For The Project
The biggest hurdle for the planned service remains regulatory approval. Archer has completed Phase 3 of the FAA's four-phase type certification process for its Midnight aircraft, with Phase 4 now underway, and the company is working with federal, state and local authorities to establish the procedures and infrastructure required for future air taxi operations. Archer has also been selected for early operations through the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program in:
- Texas
- Florida
- New York
The timing of certification will ultimately determine how quickly Archer can move from a planned vertiport to regular passenger service.
What's Next For Archer
The vertiport announcement comes weeks after Boeing agreed to sell three subsidiaries — including autonomous eVTOL developer Wisk Aero — to Archer in exchange for a 19.75% stake in the company, adding to Archer's momentum ahead of the Games. Archer is also unveiling a Midnight aircraft in a special Team USA livery at L.A. LIVE on August 24, with the aircraft remaining on public display through August 25.
What The Vertiport Could Mean For Downtown L.A. Real Estate
If it becomes operational, the L.A. LIVE vertiport could add another form of premium transportation access to one of downtown Los Angeles' largest mixed-use entertainment districts. The concept could be particularly relevant for major event venues, hotels, restaurants and other destinations where travel time is a major consideration. A direct air connection could give visitors another option for reaching downtown without relying solely on Los Angeles' congested road network. The project also points toward a broader question for future development. As electric air taxis move closer to commercial service, vertiports could eventually become part of the transportation infrastructure considered in major mixed-use, hospitality and entertainment developments. For now, the L.A. LIVE facility remains a planned project, with operational planning and regulatory certification still ahead. But its proposed location gives Archer a prominent downtown foothold as Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Games.