industryAug 14, 2026 · CNET · 3 min read

Three air taxi companies near final FAA approval, but no one can book a seat yet

Morning Byte · by Keith Andrade

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A white electric air taxi with multiple wing-mounted rotors stands on wet tarmac at blue hour, its passenger door open and the cabin lit from within. The four tan seats inside are still sealed in factory plastic. Two men stand at the doorway inspecting the empty cabin, one in a high-visibility vest holding a folder.

The three takeaways

Archer, Beta and Joby near final approval, but none had it as of June.

Riders would pay $3 to $6 per mile under 2026 estimates, more than driving.

The first booked showcase is the Los Angeles Olympics, flying VIPs rather than commuters.

Source

CNET · electric air taxi certification report · Aug 2026

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What changed

CNET's report, published in August, shows three companies close to the last safety sign-off they need to carry paying passengers. Archer, Beta Technologies and Joby build electric aircraft that lift straight up like helicopters, using many small rotors instead of one big one.

The flying part is mostly solved; the permission part is not. The FAA created a new aircraft category for these machines two years ago, and an executive order last year added a test program that lets a few companies fly controlled routes while they finish certification. Still, the report says that as of this June no company had the final approval, so nobody can legally sell a seat today.

$3 to $6

The companies' own per-mile fare estimate. A premium airport run, not a bus, and not a filed rate.

What a seat would cost, per mile.Source: CNET, Aug 2026

2024New aircraft category
The FAA creates the powered-lift class for eVTOLs.
2025Test program ordered
An executive order opens controlled routes in a few cities.
June 2026Still no final approval
No company can legally sell a seat.
2028LA Olympics showcase
Archer flies VIPs and fans under a provider contract.
2029-2030The realistic window
Georgia Tech's expert read for expansion past test cities.

The permission timeline, not the demo timeline.Source: CNET, Aug 2026 · Georgia Tech's Marilyn Smith

Why it matters

When service starts, it looks like a premium airport run rather than a bus. Companies estimate $3 to $6 per mile today, higher than any commute budget, which means the first riders pay for saved minutes, not saved money.

The nearer payoff for most working people is on the job side. Every approved aircraft still requires a licensed commercial pilot, plus mechanics and ground crew at rooftop pads. Taken together, the rulebook suggests the license is the moat, and for the next several years the license is also the paycheck.

What to watch

Watch the certification, not the demo. Archer signed on as the official air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, flying VIPs and fans, which means the first showcase is a contract rather than a public service.

Smith says company launch dates may be optimistic, and 2029-2030 is more realistic than 2027, which means the real wait runs years past the marketing. If batteries improve on power, output and weight, routes could widen; until then, the honest date is the later one. Whether the FAA grants the first final approval this year is not yet known.

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