Archer has entered into definitive agreements to acquire control of Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles for $126 million in cash.
The acquisition is intended to establish the airport as Archer’s operational hub for its planned air taxi network in Los Angeles, including a key role in the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games. The airport, also known as Jack Northrop Field, is a historic asset built in the 1920s that once contributed to Southern California’s aerospace legacy. The facility sits on an 80-acre site and includes about 190,000 square feet of terminal, office, and hangar facilities. It is strategically located less than three miles from LAX and is the closest airport to major destinations like SoFi Stadium, The Forum, Intuit Dome, and Downtown L.A.
Beyond operational use, Archer plans to utilize the airport as an innovation testbed for developing next-generation AI-powered aviation technologies. These technologies, which Archer is planning to deploy with its airline and technology partners, include AI-powered air traffic and ground operations management.
Michael Leskinen, Chief Financial Officer for United Airlines, commented on Archer’s initiative, stating, “Archer’s trajectory validates our conviction that eVTOLs are part of the next generation of air traffic technology that will fundamentally reshape aviation. Their vision for an AI-enabled operations platform isn’t just about eVTOLs, it’s also about leveraging cutting-edge technology to better enable moving people safely and efficiently in our most congested airspaces. Through United’s investment arm, United Airlines Ventures, we’re investing in companies like Archer that pioneer technologies that will define and support aviation infrastructure for decades to come.”
