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in General Factchecking by Newbie (280 points)

Archer Aviation just took a huge step toward bringing air taxis to Los Angeles in time for the 2028 Olympics. The company spent $126 million on a long-term ground lease at Hawthorne Municipal Airport, which sits just a few miles from major Olympic venues like SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum. Archer is still waiting for full FAA approval, but it hopes its electric air-taxi, the “Midnight,” will be certified by 2026. If that happens, the company plans to shuttle people around the city during the Games, offering flights that replace the city’s famously slow traffic. 

The Midnight is basically a quiet, electric helicopter-like aircraft that can carry four passengers and a pilot. Test flights are already showing promising results, with speeds over 150 mph and 30-minute flight times. The Olympics would serve as the aircraft’s first big public test, and if all goes well, Archer says the service could eventually expand across L.A. to help cut traffic long-term. With the location secured, strong FAA cooperation, and a tight timeline lined up, it could be likely that Los Angeles will have functioning air taxis in time for the 2028 Olympics.

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ago by Newbie (300 points)

After doing some research I have found that the company Archer aviation was selected to as the official air taxi provider and will be transporting vips, fans, and stakeholders. They will also provide support for emergency services and security. The article I read states that "Archer and LA28 will introduce the company’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft to Los Angeles, which is expected to host over 15 million visitors and broadcast to billions of viewers globally over the course of the Games. The partnership includes support for Team USA through LA28." The electric air taxi they will be using is named "midnight" and can seat 4 passengers and is said to produce less noise and emissions than a traditional helicopter. 

source: https://la28.org/en/newsroom/archer-selected-as-official-air-taxi-provider-of-la28-games.html

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ago by Newbie (300 points)

It is to be concluded that Los Angeles is in fact set to have an air taxi available for the LA Olympics. This claim is ultimately supported by the primary web source of the LA 2028 Olympics. Posted within the past year they claim that, "Through this exclusive partnership, specific to the U.S. territory, the two will look to integrate Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft across the LA28 Games in a variety of ways, such as transporting VIPs, fans, and stakeholders, while electrifying vertiport take-off-and-landing hubs for key venues and providing support for emergency services and security". Through the collaboration, it will present Midnight as the primary aircraft to serve people in the form of aerial transportation. Prior to its arrival, it still had to be approved by the FAA in order to be secure for passengers.
 

https://la28.org/en/newsroom/archer-selected-as-official-air-taxi-provider-of-la28-games.html 

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ago by Newbie (300 points)
This statement is true. Archer Aviation has been selected to be the official air taxi provider of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, according to the official LA28 website owned by the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028. The president of this organization is Casey Wasserman, whom the IOC has "full trust" in, according to the Los Angeles Times. Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation, said, “We want to transform 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 that than during the LA28 Games.”

Sources:

https://la28.org/en/newsroom/archer-selected-as-official-air-taxi-provider-of-la28-games.html

https://la28.org/en/footer-links/terms-conditions.html

https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2026-02-04/ioc-full-trust-casey-wasserman-la-olympic-committee
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ago by Newbie (300 points)
The Archer plan is indeed to have air taxis on the Olympics and Paralympics this year. The statement is true because Archer Aviation signed an exclusive partnership with the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games to serve as the official air taxi provider. According to the announcement, Archer will use its piloted electric Midnight eVTOL aircraft to carry up to four passengers at a time between vertiport hubs located near major venues such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Stadium in Inglewood, and Los Angeles International Airport. These aircraft are designed to produce less noise and fewer emissions than helicopters, making transportation faster and more environmentally friendly. The service aims to help move millions of visitors efficiently during the Games while introducing a new, innovative form of air travel to the city.
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ago by Newbie (300 points)

After researching the claim that Los Angeles will have air taxis for the 2028 Olympics, I found that it is mostly true but not guaranteed. Archer Aviation has leased space at Hawthorne Municipal Airport and is testing its electric air taxi, the “Midnight,” which can carry four passengers and fly at over 150 miles per hour. I used a primary source from a Daily Mail article that explained the company’s progress and timeline for FAA approval https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15287615. I also looked at secondary sources that discussed air taxi development and the FAA certification process, which confirmed that the plan is moving forward. The sources may be optimistic about new technology, but they provide clear evidence from the company and FAA updates. Evidence supporting the claim includes the airport lease, test flights, and planned Olympic use. Evidence undermining it is that full FAA approval is still required, so flights are not guaranteed. Overall, it is likely that air taxis will operate during the Olympics if FAA certification is completed on time.

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ago by Newbie (300 points)

This claim is true. Archer Aviation's reported $126 million investment in a long-term ground lease is an easily backed up report, and the airport's proximity to olympic venues lends credibility to the stated intentions. The article states that the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft known as Midnight is still waiting approval and certification from the FAA, with 2026 as the target year for certification. This goal aligns with using the aircraft at the Olympics, although the certification process is very complex and often lengthy, meaning it may be an aspirational timeline. While the article suggests that air taxis could realistically be operational during the 2028 Olympics, this outcome depends on several unresolved factors, including FAA certification, infrastructure readiness, air traffic integration, and public safety approvals. The Daily Mail accurately reports Archer’s plans and investments, but its implication that functioning air taxi service during the Olympics is “likely” is speculative. Overall, the claim is grounded in real corporate actions and stated goals, but the projected timeline remains uncertain and contingent on regulatory approval and operational readiness rather than established fact. Other sources like the BBC and CBS also reported on the air taxis, all sharing similar information.

BBC - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgnp103zr9o

CBS News - https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/la-olympics-using-air-taxis-to-transport-vips-fans-and-staff-between-venues/

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ago by Newbie (260 points)

This post states that LA will be having Air Taxis for the Olympics. According to both CBS and the official LA 2028 Olympics page, LA will officially have air taxis for VIPS, fans, & stakeholders. Various credible sources reiterate what they publicly announced they wanted with the Air Taxis. They explained that they want to collaborate with the Taxi providers more in the future and find ways to weave them into their events. This proves the headline to be truthful and in no way an exaggeration.

Sources:

https://la28.org/en/newsroom/archer-selected-as-official-air-taxi-provider-of-la28-games.html

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