Scott Kirby questions eVTOL safety and clouds United's future Archer purchases
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Apr 30
Scott Kirby questions eVTOL safety and clouds United's future Archer purchases
10 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Apr 30
Kirby said electric air taxis should not operate in crowded airport airspace, a setback for Archer Aviation, in which United invested $25 million in 2021 and again in 2023.
United's agreement to buy $1 billion of Archer aircraft, with an option for another $500 million, depends on FAA certification and unresolved material terms, meaning the airline could still walk away.
The comments undermine a key early-use case for eVTOLs and may push investors toward rivals such as Joby, which still has Delta's backing after a recent $70 million warrant exercise.
Is United's safety warning a genuine concern or a strategic exit from its billion-dollar eVTOL deal?
As rivals race for certification, which business model will ultimately win the urban air mobility market?
Can new rules truly solve the chaos of mixing slow eVTOLs with fast jets in crowded airspace?