Eve, the urban air mobility (UAM) division of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, has announced a collaboration with United Airlines to introduce air taxi flights in the San Francisco Bay Area. The aim is to provide an aerial commuting option as an alternative to the heavily congested roadways in the region.
Under the partnership, Eve and United plan to launch UAM commuter services across San Francisco and its surrounding areas. This initiative comes after United's $15 million investment in Eve and its conditional order of 200 air taxis, with an option for an additional 200. The anticipated launch of UAM services is slated for 2026, pending Eve's type certification and commercialization of their electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL).
This announcement not only marks the introduction of air taxi services in the densely populated San Francisco Bay Area but also underscores United's commitment to exploring opportunities in the UAM sector. Prior to its investment in Eve, United had acquired a significant stake in Archer Aviation, a Bay Area startup, with plans to launch air taxi services in Chicago and New York.
While the UAM services in Chicago and New York target passengers commuting to United's hub airports, the collaboration with Eve in San Francisco aims to serve a broader public. The objective is to offer efficient, cost-competitive, and sustainable transportation options in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the United States.
The specific routes, destinations, vertiport locations, and energy and technology providers for the air taxi services are still being determined. Eve and United are actively consulting with local and state officials to finalize these details. Although United's partnership with Archer includes maintenance and repair capabilities for their respective legacy aircraft and air taxis, Eve may oversee the support and service network for United's future UAM aircraft with a range of 60 miles.
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