Korean Air and Archer Aviation have agreed to commercialise Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft in South Korea, starting with government operations. Under the agreement, Korean Air could purchase up to 100 of the aircraft.

The collaboration is expected to accelerate South Korea’s position in advanced aviation technologies by combining Archer’s eVTOL expertise with Korean Air’s long-standing experience in aircraft operation and maintenance. It will also lay the groundwork for broader use of Archer’s aircraft across multiple applications in the country.

Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, says: “Korean Air's expertise in aerospace and its comprehensive strategic vision for the future make it the ideal partner for Archer. We are excited to introduce Midnight alongside it in one of the world's largest aerospace markets.”

“This partnership with Archer will accelerate Korea's leadership in next-generation air mobility,” adds Jin Kyu Lim, SVP and head of Korean Air's aerospace business. “By combining Archer's industry-leading eVTOL technology with Korean Air's five decades of aerospace MRO and manufacturing expertise and strong commitment to innovation, we aim to lay the foundation for the next generation of air mobility in the Republic of Korea.”

Archer’s Midnight aircraft has been undergoing flight testing, achieving milestones such as its longest and highest altitude piloted flights, and was recently showcased to an audience of around 50,000 people at the California International Airshow. The aircraft is designed to carry four passengers on short electric flights that could reduce long car commutes to minutes.