California-based Archer Aviation has announced plans to purchase Hawthorne Municipal Airport in Los Angeles for $126 million, marking a significant step in its bid to establish a regional air taxi network. The company intends to use the facility as both a testing site and an operational hub for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as it prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games, where it serves as the official air taxi partner.
The binding acquisition agreement, revealed alongside Archer’s third-quarter results, includes the airport’s 32-hectare site, encompassing 17,650 square metres of terminal, office, and hangar space. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Hawthorne Airport—also known as Jack Northrop Field—is home to several of Elon Musk’s companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company. Built in the 1920s, the airport has played a prominent role in U.S. aviation history and primarily serves private and business flights, offering relief to the nearby Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
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Archer said it plans to leverage the airport’s strategic proximity to SoFi Stadium, The Forum, Intuit Dome, and downtown Los Angeles to support its forthcoming air taxi operations. The company envisions the site as a cornerstone for deploying its AI-powered aviation technologies and conducting test flights of its Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
Despite reporting no revenue for the third quarter of 2025 and a net loss of $129.9 million, Archer said it remains well-capitalized, following a $650 million capital raise through the issuance of new shares that increased liquidity to $2 billion. The company also completed the acquisition of over 300 patents from insolvent German rival Lilium, bringing its total intellectual property portfolio to more than 1,000 patents.
See also: Korean Air Partners with Archer Aviation to Bring Midnight eVTOL Aircraft to Korea
Archer believes it remains on track to commence commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, where test flights have been underway since the summer. “We see Hawthorne as a foundational hub for our Los Angeles operations and an important step toward making sustainable urban air mobility a reality,” an Archer spokesperson said in a statement.
