- VertiPorts by Atlantic, a subsidiary of Atlantic Aviation, has hired Cushman & Wakefield to scout locations for flying taxi infrastructure across the LA metro.
- The push is tied to Archer Aviation’s partnership with the 2028 Olympics (LA28), aiming to launch eVTOL flights connecting key areas like LAX, SoFi Stadium, and Santa Monica.
- Regulatory uncertainty remains the largest hurdle, with no current FAA rules or zoning codes for electric air taxi operations.
A New Kind Of Lift-Off
Electric air taxis may soon be more than a sci-fi fantasy in Los Angeles, reports TheRealDeal. VertiPorts by Atlantic is the infrastructure arm of Atlantic Aviation. The company has brought on real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield to help identify potential sites for vertiports across Los Angeles. These vertiports will serve as designated takeoff and landing pads for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Cushman & Wakefield will focus on both rooftop and ground-level locations.
The move aligns with the city’s race to modernize urban mobility ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, when LA is expected to face even more intense congestion. One of the main players in this effort is Archer Aviation, which plans to offer 10- to 20-minute eVTOL flights between major hubs like LAX, SoFi Stadium, and Orange County.
From Traffic Jams To Air Lanes
VertiPorts by Atlantic CEO Kevin Cox sees flying taxis as a practical fix to LA’s infamous traffic: “It should take 30 minutes to get from point A to point B, but it takes an hour and a half,” Cox told The Los Angeles Times. He expects “two or three dozen” vertiports to be established across the region in areas like Santa Monica, Downtown LA, and Culver City.
These aircraft won’t be self-piloted. Instead, licensed professional pilots will operate the flights. This approach helps address early concerns about passenger safety.
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Regulatory Airspace Still Uncharted
Despite the momentum, serious barriers remain. Chief among them: the lack of FAA regulations and local zoning codes to govern where and how eVTOLs can operate.
“The real challenge…is getting local land use entitlements,” said Mike Condon Jr., a Cushman & Wakefield broker. “There’s nowhere in zoning codes that says how flying taxis can take off.”
Still, VertiPorts may find early opportunities within Atlantic Aviation’s existing airport infrastructure. The company operates more than 100 terminals nationwide, including locations at LAX, Santa Monica Airport, and Burbank Airport.
Why It Matters
As demand for faster, cleaner urban transport grows, real estate is emerging as a crucial piece of the puzzle. Landing rights, rooftops, and infrastructure placement could dictate how widely and quickly electric air taxis scale.
For now, all eyes are on LA as the city prepares to become a testing ground for the next era of transportation—by land and by air.
