United Airlines thinks that in a few years, plenty of big-city customers will pay $100 or more for a one-way ride to the airport in a four-seat, electric-powered air taxi.
The Chicago-based airline said Thursday that it invested $15 million in a startup manufacturer, and signed a "conditional" agreement to buy 200 of the tiny aircraft with options for 200 more.
It's hard to judge United's commitment to the deal, since it wouldn't provide terms for the order. A spokesman said the conditions are standard when buying an aircraft that hasn't been certified by regulators, and they cover "a number of United's business objectives."But the deal fits United's pattern of announcing interest in startups that are trying to build and win regulatory approval for air taxis, like Archer, and supersonic planes, like Boom.
"It will take time for consumers to adopt this. People are going to have some hesitancy at first," Leskinen said. "It will feel a lot similar to a helicopter ride, it might be scary for some, but this is going to change the way we work and live."
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