Korean Air partners with Archer Aviation to introduce Midnight eVTOL aircraft in South Korea

Summary Points:

• Korean Air to purchase up to 100 Archer Midnight eVTOL aircraft for commercialization in South Korea.

• Safran Electronics & Defense supplies Midnight’s avionics, including flight control and navigation systems.

• Archer’s Midnight can carry four passengers and a pilot, offering short, sustainable urban air taxi flights.

SEOUL - Korean Air in Seoul and Archer Aviation Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif., have signed an agreement to commercialize Archer’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in South Korea, beginning with government applications. Under the agreement, Korean Air plans to purchase up to 100 Midnight aircraft.

The collaboration aims to position South Korea as a leader in advanced aviation technology by combining Archer’s eVTOL innovations with Korean Air’s experience in aircraft operations and maintenance. The companies said the partnership will accelerate deployment of the Midnight aircraft in multiple markets while establishing the foundation for broader adoption of electric air mobility in the country.

Archer is developing the Midnight aircraft in collaboration with several key aerospace and industrial partners. Stellantis N.V. in Amsterdam serves as Archer’s exclusive contract manufacturer, contributing manufacturing technology, personnel, and capital. The two companies are building Archer’s first high-volume production facility in Covington, Ga. Safran Electronics & Defense in Paris provides the Midnight’s avionics suite, including its UCAP flight control computer and SkyNaute navigation system, to support flight control and certification readiness. Archer has also partnered with Jetex Flight Support in Dubai to help integrate global infrastructure such as vertiports, charging systems, and passenger terminals to support the commercial operations of the Midnight aircraft.

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Jin Kyu Lim, senior vice president and head of Korean Air’s Aerospace Business, said, "This partnership with Archer will accelerate Korea’s leadership in next-generation air mobility. By combining Archer’s industry-leading eVTOL technology with Korean Air’s five decades of aerospace MRO and manufacturing expertise, we aim to lay the foundation for the next generation of air mobility in the Republic of Korea."

Archer has been advancing flight testing of its Midnight aircraft, recently showcasing the vehicle at the California International Airshow. The company said Midnight recently completed its longest and highest piloted flights to date, covering roughly 55 miles in 31 minutes at an altitude of 10,000 feet.

The Midnight aircraft is designed to carry four passengers plus a pilot and perform rapid, back-to-back trips with minimal charging time. Archer says Midnight could replace 60–90-minute car commutes with 10–20-minute low-noise, sustainable, and cost-competitive air taxi flights.