UAE-based Air Chateau has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Archer for up to 100 Midnight eVTOLs. The deal is valued at up to US$500 million or $5 million per aircraft if all orders are exercised. Execution of the MoU requires a non-refundable deposit of $1m to be paid by the end of this year. The two companies will then work to convert the MoU to firm orders, though the exact mix of orders and options has not been revealed. However, it has been announced that moving to the next stage will call for a further $4m in pre-delivery payments.
Speaking at the announcement at the Dubai Airshow, Dr Samir Mohamed, Chairman and founder of Air Chateau, said: “This remarkable opportunity signifies the ongoing evolution of Air Chateau, heralding a transformative era in our industry. Embarking on our journey into being an infrastructure provider two years ago for helicopters, today, we stand at the precipice of realising our vision for the future of urban air mobility with eVTOLs in Dubai and across the UAE. The support of our visionary partners has been instrumental in our journey, and as we unveil this exciting chapter, we are privileged to share a collective vision. We are very grateful for having the opportunity to pave the way for the future of Air Mobility in Dubai with Archer.”
In the announcement, Archer said that it expects operations in the UAE to begin in 2026, although it is not clear if certification by the UAE’s GCAA will be tied to the FAA approval timeline.
