Archer and ITA Airways target Italy’s air taxi market with electric aviation partnership

Archer Aviation and ITA Airways have agreed to explore an electric air taxi network in Italy, seeking to connect major cities, airports and strategic destinations through short-distance flights that could offer an alternative to congested road journeys.

The agreement, announced on 29 October, brings Italy’s flag carrier into Archer’s international airline partnership network as the US manufacturer advances its plans to commercialise electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The companies intend to assess how Archer’s Midnight aircraft could complement existing transport and airline services, although the announcement does not establish a launch date or confirm operational routes.

The proposed model centres on journeys that are relatively short by air but time-consuming on the ground. Archer estimates that a trip between Rome Fiumicino Airport and the city centre, which can take about an hour by road, could be reduced to less than 10 minutes by air taxi. Such comparisons represent potential journey times rather than a complete assessment of door-to-door travel, which would also depend on passenger transfers, boarding procedures and the location of landing facilities.

For airlines, the opportunity extends beyond the aircraft itself. Integrating air taxis with established networks could create additional options for airport access and connections between destinations, provided services can operate reliably and fit passengers’ travel requirements.

ITA Airways chief executive and general manager Joerg Eberhart said “the agreement would help the airline assess how electric air taxi services could complement its network and improve connections between airports, city centres and other strategic locations.”

He said “the airline was exploring different solutions to identify a suitable offering for customers, with the aim of delivering a more integrated journey.”

Commercialisation will depend on execution

Archer chief executive Adam Goldstein pointed to Rome Fiumicino’s passenger growth as an indication of the potential market. The airport handled more than 50 million passengers in 2025 for the first time, according to the company’s announcement.

However, passenger volumes alone will not determine the viability of an air taxi network. Commercial deployment will require appropriate regulatory authorisations, suitable infrastructure, dependable aircraft availability and a service model that can attract customers at commercially sustainable prices.

Archer says its Midnight aircraft is designed for rapid successive flights, with the company targeting journeys of 10–20 minutes that could replace longer road trips. The manufacturer has also highlighted recent piloted flights in the San Francisco Bay Area as a demonstration of operations in complex urban airspace. These developments do not, in themselves, establish readiness for commercial service in Italy.

Under the agreement, ITA Airways expects to contribute airline-network expertise and customer-journey planning, working alongside specialist partners responsible for operating the service.

The carrier becomes the first European airline to join Archer’s global network of airline partners, according to the announcement. The partnership extends the manufacturer’s commercialisation strategy into another major aviation market, but the next test will be turning the concept into a regulated, operationally viable service.