Could flying taxis ease Broward traffic? How they’d work and FLL airport’s role
Florida is positioning itself to become the first state to offer commercial Advanced Air Mobility, a new form of transportation that would allow passangers to travel using flight taxis, with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport among the locations involved in the proposed project.
Florida Department of Transportation is spearheading the initiative. FDOT officials say the state’s first aerial testing site is expected to be operational in early 2026 at the SunTrax facility in Polk County, located between Tampa and Orlando along the notoriously congested Interstate 4 corridor.
The Florida AAM Headquarters at SunTrax is expected to open in early 2026, with full operations, including commercial passenger service, expected by the end of the year.
Air taxi company Archer Aviation announced in a news release on Dec. 3 that it plans to provide flights between Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Miami international airports possibly as early as this year.
“Archer’s goal is to connect major population and business centers [in South Florida] via 10-20 minute electric flights, bypassing ground-based traffic and unlocking a new mobility ecosystem in the air that is safe and efficient,” the news release says.
According to Archer’s website, it is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain the necessary certifications required for commercial operations.
Archer also shared that it has partnerships with key players in the region such as Stephen Ross, CEO and Chairman of Related Ross and owner of the Miami Dolphins, as part of its efforts to build out air taxi plan across South Florida.
In addition to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, these South Florida airports also are reported as being involved in the project:
- Boca Raton Airport (BCT)
- Miami Executive Airport (TMB)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
