Archer to buy Hawthorne Airport for eVTOL hub
Archer Aviation agreed to acquire Los Angeles’ Hawthorne Airport for $126 million in cash, securing the remaining 30 years of the airport’s master lease and an exclusive option (subject to city approval) to take control of the on‑site fixed‑base operator. The 80‑acre site, with about 190,000 square feet of buildings near LAX, would serve as the company’s main hub for an AI‑enabled air taxi network and support operations for the LA28 Olympics, drawing both support from local officials and opposition from nearby residents citing noise and safety concerns.
Urban Air Mobility and eVTOL
Los Angeles Infrastructure/LA28
📌 Key Facts
- $126 million cash deal; 30 years remain on the master lease
- 80 acres with ~190,000 sq ft of terminals/office/hangars; near LAX
- Option to control the FBO is subject to City of Hawthorne approval
- Planned role: main LA hub for eVTOL network and LA28 operations
- Residents’ group ‘Hawthorne Quiet Skies’ opposes; mayor welcomed Archer