AEG and Archer are planning a vertiport at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles, giving Archer Aviation a proposed air taxi stop beside Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The agreement matters because it puts a defined downtown site inside Archer’s Los Angeles network while construction, permitting and service dates remain unannounced.
Key Takeaways
- AEG and Archer announced the L.A. LIVE vertiport collaboration on August 24, 2026.
- The multi-year agreement makes Archer the exclusive air taxi partner of L.A. LIVE.
- An initial feasibility study covering land use, airspace, power availability and community impact has been completed.
- No construction start, opening date, fares or completed approvals for passenger service were announced.
- The proposed location supports Archer’s preparations for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
AEG and Archer have moved their Los Angeles air taxi plans into downtown, identifying L.A. LIVE as a proposed takeoff and landing site for Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
The announcement gives the project an address in a sports and entertainment district. It also sharpens the distinction between a planned network and an operating service. The companies are still reviewing operational details and have not announced when passengers could use the site.
AEG and Archer Add Downtown L.A. to the Planned Network
L.A. LIVE covers about four million square feet and sits beside Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The district includes Peacock Theater, The Novo, the GRAMMY Museum, cinemas, hotels, restaurants and event facilities.
The proposed vertiport would put an aviation site inside a district built around concerts, professional sports, conventions and major events. Crypto.com Arena is also set for a significant LA28 role, including artistic gymnastics, trampoline competition and boxing finals, adding context to expected event traffic.
Under the multi-year agreement, Archer becomes the exclusive air taxi partner for L.A. LIVE. Archer has also identified SoFi Stadium, USC and Hollywood Burbank Airport among locations in its planned Los Angeles network, with Hawthorne Airport expected to serve as a central operating hub.
Archer says its network is designed around short point-to-point flights in Midnight, with targeted trip times of roughly 10 to 20 minutes on selected Los Angeles routes. Those figures remain company targets and do not represent confirmed travel times for a future L.A. LIVE service.
Nick Baker, president and chief operating officer of AEG Global Partnerships, described the proposal as “an ambitious project” and said the collaboration “blends infrastructure and technology in service of our fans, visitors, and the broader community.”
Feasibility Work Moves Ahead Without a Launch Date
The most concrete development beyond the partnership is the completed initial feasibility study. According to AEG and Archer, the review examined land use, airspace, electrical power availability and community impact at the L.A. LIVE site.
The companies said the next phase is focused on the operational approach and guest experience. They did not disclose financial terms, a construction start date, an opening date, expected fares or operating hours.
That distinction matters because a feasibility study is an early development step rather than authorization to operate a passenger air taxi service. Independent aviation reporting also noted that the companies did not identify city or federal approvals secured for the site as of the announcement.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft remains in the certification process. As of August 24, 2026, the aircraft did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration type certificate, according to aviation industry reporting. Archer has separately said it is preparing for U.S. operations under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program while certification work continues.
The downtown proposal would also enter a transportation system already served by roads, buses, rideshare services and rail. The Los Angeles subway expansion along Wilshire Boulevard illustrates the wider mobility changes underway across the city.
LA28 Puts the L.A. LIVE Site in a High-Traffic Zone
The project carries relevance because Archer is the official air taxi provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. Downtown Los Angeles is scheduled to host a concentration of events, placing L.A. LIVE near venues expected to handle substantial visitor traffic.
The proposed vertiport would sit beside Crypto.com Arena, which LA28 identifies as DTLA Arena for the Games. Its Crypto.com Arena LA28 role includes artistic gymnastics and trampoline events, along with boxing finals.
Archer displayed its Midnight aircraft in Team USA livery at L.A. LIVE on August 24 and 25. The display supported the partnership announcement but did not mark the start of passenger operations.
The site is planned to use electric aviation charging equipment from BETA Technologies through America’s Consortium for Electric Skyways, or ACES. Archer, BETA Technologies and Macquarie Capital announced the consortium in July 2026 with a stated goal of supporting standardized electric aircraft charging at more than 250 locations by 2030.
That infrastructure adds another practical layer to the proposal. Electric aircraft operations would require charging capacity, ground systems, passenger handling and airspace coordination in addition to landing space.
For AEG, the project would add a transportation component to a district centered on live events. For Archer, it would create a visible downtown node within a broader network that includes airports and venue districts.
The AEG and Archer plan remains a development project rather than an operating air taxi service. Its next measurable steps depend on site planning, regulatory progress, aircraft certification and the infrastructure required for regular passenger operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are AEG and Archer planning at L.A. LIVE?
AEG and Archer plan to develop a vertiport at L.A. LIVE for Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric air taxi. The agreement makes Archer the exclusive air taxi partner of the downtown Los Angeles entertainment district.
When will the L.A. LIVE air taxi hub open?
No opening date has been announced. The companies have completed an initial feasibility study and are now reviewing operational planning and the guest experience.
Is Archer’s Midnight aircraft approved for regular passenger service?
As of August 24, 2026, Midnight did not hold an FAA type certificate, according to aviation industry reporting. Archer continues certification work while preparing for limited U.S. operations under an eVTOL pilot program.
How does the project connect to LA28?
Archer is the official air taxi provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. The proposed L.A. LIVE site would place a planned network stop beside a major downtown event cluster expected to be active during the Games.
