New Partnership Advances eVTOL Air Mobility in Korea

Korean Air and Archer Aviation announced an agreement to jointly commercialize Archer’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Korea. The collaboration includes the potential for Korean Air to purchase up to 100 Midnight aircraft, to be deployed across multiple applications starting with government operations.

The partnership aims to support Korea’s national priorities in advanced air mobility, following the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s 2022 announcement designating eVTOL and urban air mobility adoption as key government initiatives.

The two companies will work together to introduce new aircraft capabilities in the near term while building the foundation for broader adoption of eVTOL operations across Korea. The collaboration combines Archer’s aircraft development and certification efforts with Korean Air’s experience in aerospace operations, maintenance, and manufacturing.

Jin Kyu Lim, SVP and Head of Korean Air’s Aerospace Business, commented: “This partnership with Archer will accelerate Korea’s leadership in next-generation air mobility. 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 is designed for short, rapid flights with minimal recharge time between missions and can carry four passengers plus a pilot.