Downtown LA’s first air taxi hub will beat brutal traffic in 10 minutes by 2028

Archer Aviation and AEG plan to develop downtown Los Angeles’ first vertiport at L.A. LIVE, expanding Archer’s proposed electric air taxi network before the 2028 Olympics. The proposed site would sit beside Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. Archer would become L.A. LIVE’s exclusive air taxi provider under a multi-year partnership. The project could eventually give visitors another way to reach one of the city’s busiest entertainment districts. Archer plans to use its Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for the service. Midnight targets short urban trips that typically require lengthy drives through Los Angeles traffic. Archer estimates its network could reduce some trips to flights lasting between 10 and 20 minutes. Downtown landing point L.A. LIVE would become a prominent addition to Archer’s broader Los Angeles network. The company has previously identified locations near SoFi Stadium, USC and Hollywood Burbank. Hawthorne Airport is expected to serve as the network’s central operating hub. Archer recently acquired control of the airport through a separate transaction. The L.A. LIVE location could prove especially useful during major sporting and entertainment events. Crypto.com Arena hosts the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Kings and Los Angeles Sparks. The surrounding district also includes the Peacock Theater, The Novo and the GRAMMY Museum. AEG sees the proposed vertiport as a way to experiment with new transportation options around major events. Nick Baker, president and chief operating officer of AEG Global Partnerships, called the project an effort to improve the visitor experience. Archer and AEG have already completed an initial feasibility study for the site. Engineers and planners reviewed land use, airspace, electrical capacity and potential community impacts. The partners have now started examining operational plans and the expected guest experience. Infrastructure takes shape A functioning air taxi network requires far more than aircraft and landing pads. Operators also need reliable charging systems, airspace coordination and infrastructure that can support frequent flights. Archer plans to equip the L.A. LIVE site with electric aviation chargers from BETA Technologies. The equipment forms part of the ACES consortium, which aims to establish standardized charging infrastructure across 250 aviation sites in America by 2030. The partnership also strengthens Archer’s preparations for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archer serves as the official air taxi provider for LA28 and Team USA. Downtown Los Angeles will host 18 Olympic and Paralympic sports during the Games. That gives the proposed vertiport a potential role in one of the largest transportation challenges facing the event. Archer also used the announcement to showcase its Midnight aircraft at L.A. LIVE. The company unveiled a Team USA livery during the public display. Expanding our planned LA network: we're partnering with @AEGworldwide to develop a vertiport at @LALIVE in the heart of downtown LA adding one of the city’s biggest sports and entertainment destinations to our planned air taxi network.Think less time in transit. More time at… pic.twitter.com/NH2PvTCahz— Archer (@flyarcher) August 24, 2026 Midnight is designed for short, point-to-point urban flights. Archer says its electric propulsion system could generate less noise than conventional helicopters and produce no operating emissions. The L.A. LIVE vertiport remains a planned project for now. The partnership has completed its first technical review, but additional operational work remains. If the project advances, downtown Los Angeles could become a testing ground for how electric aircraft fit into crowded urban transportation networks. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.