United’s Midnight air taxi is on track to debut by 2025 — take a look at the plane

• United Airlines ordered $1 billion worth of Archer Aviation’s electric air taxi known as “Midnight.”
• The eVTOL is optimized to fly short-haul missions between city centers and airports, saving time in traffic.
• A regulatory change could delay the launch, but Archer’s CEO says commercial flights are still on track for 2025.

The era of electric air taxis is near, but a regulatory change has created an obstacle for manufacturers.

Up until early 2022, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles — known as eVTOLs — were on track to enter the market by next year. With their zero emissions, quiet propulsion system, and low operating costs, airlines see these passenger craft as a solution to intercity transport and are already placing orders.