Ethiopian Airlines and Archer Sign Agreement to Deploy Midnight Aircraft

Archer Aviation just announced a deal with Ethiopian Airlines, making them the second customer to jump on board with Archer’s "Launch Edition" Midnight aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines, which is Africa’s biggest airline and part of the Star Alliance, flies to over 140 international destinations across five continents. They’re teaming up to set up an all-electric air taxi network in the area using Archer’s Midnight aircraft.

In February 2025, Archer introduced the Launch Edition program to establish a scalable commercialization framework for the safe deployment of aircraft in early adopter markets. This initiative aims to showcase the capabilities of its Midnight aircraft, foster public acceptance, accumulate operational experience, and generate initial revenue.

Archer intends to deploy an initial fleet of Midnight "Launch Edition" aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines, accompanied by a team of Archer pilots, technicians, and engineers to facilitate this initial deployment. Additionally, Archer plans to supply both back-end software infrastructure and front-end booking applications to support urban air mobility operations throughout the Launch Edition program.

Archer and Ethiopian Airlines will concentrate on establishing an air taxi network in the region, utilizing Midnight. Additionally, they are investigating the potential of employing Midnight for a wider array of applications, including eco-tourism.

Archer and Ethiopian Airlines formalized their partnership during a signing ceremony held this week in Addis Ababa. Both parties will collaborate with the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) to efficiently and safely operationalize Midnight.

Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said, “We are committed to pioneering advanced air mobility solutions that enhance connectivity and drive sustainable aviation in Africa. Our partnership with Archer Aviation marks an important step in bringing cutting-edge eVTOL technology to Ethiopia. Together, we aim to redefine regional travel and create new opportunities for efficient, eco-friendly transportation."

Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said, “Last month we announced Abu Dhabi Aviation as our first Launch Edition customer—today we’re following that up with our second, Ethiopian Airlines. Africa presents an untapped opportunity with regards to advanced air mobility, with a variety of compelling use cases that we’ll be exploring together, and I’m proud to be taking a big step forward here alongside Ethiopian Airlines.”

Alastair Curtis, General Manager, Africa, at Archer, said, "This partnership with Ethiopian Airlines represents a transformative step in bringing sustainable and efficient air mobility solutions to Ethiopia and the broader African market. At Archer, we’re committed to working with forward-thinking partners to unlock the potential of eVTOL technology. This is just the beginning of a new era of aviation for Africa."

“U.S. aviation companies have time and again highlighted the best of American quality and innovation, and we’re excited at the opportunity for Archer to make an impact in the region while making America more prosperous through its new agreement with Ethiopian Airlines,” said Nathan Stickney, Commercial Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Addis Ababa.

Archer aims to revolutionize urban transportation by substituting 60–90-minute car commutes with projected 10–20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise, and competitively priced with ground transport. The Archer Midnight is a piloted aircraft accommodating four passengers, engineered to execute swift, consecutive trips with minimal charging time between flights.