A California startup wants to usher in a “flying car” future. But for now, that starts with making sure rich people don’t have to wait in traffic to attend the 2028 Summer Olympics. Step one: Buying a small airport outside Los Angeles that’s conveniently located near a few larger locations.
In its third-quarter earnings report on Nov. 6, the Santa Clara, CA-based Archer Aviation announced the purchase of Hawthorne Airport in a $126 million deal. Hawthorne is located approximately three miles from Los Angeles International Airport.
The company plans to use this location as its hub for LA Air Taxi to Downtown LA and surrounding venues such as SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome and The Forum using its Midnight eVTOL aircraft. All three stadiums are in nearby Inglewood and are expected to host major events during the Olympic Games.
Archer said it will also use Hawthorne to test AI-powered aviation projects, including “AI-powered air traffic and ground operations management.” The company says it is working on these systems with unnamed airline and technology partners.
Hawthorne Airport was the official base of SpaceX until August 2024, when the company’s headquarters moved to nearby El Segundo. However, SpaceX still leases space at the airport. The Boring Company was also headquartered at the Hawthorne facility until relocating to Austin between 2020 and 2023. It has also been home to the Tesla Design Studio and is used to showcase the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck.
Archer is still seeking full approval from the Federal Aviation Administration at midnight and during the third quarter reported that it conducted a piloted flight of 55 miles, 31 minutes and Some flights shown publicly At the California International Air Show in October. In June, Archer was part of a White House executive order, “Unraveling drone dominance,” This also included a promise to certify the Midnight aircraft early next year.
In May, Archer was announced “Official Air Taxi Provider” LA28 by organizers of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. Archer said it planned to add more destinations in LAX, Orange County, Santa Monica and Hollywood, though it did not give any specific locations for where it planned to take off or land.
Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation, said in May, “We want to change the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do this than the LA28 Games.”
While the locations for the 2028 Games have been more or less finalized and are centered around existing transit hubs in Los Angeles and nearby Long Beach, several projects are still not complete, such as the LAX Automated People Mover that was originally scheduled to be finished in 2023 and may not be ready until next June for the 2026 World Cup, according to a September report. Los Angeles Times,