Commercial Brokers International is spearheading a venture to put air taxis in Southern California in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The Los Angeles-based brokerage has partnered with U.K.-based Skyports to identify eight local sites for vertiports — specialized terminals for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, according to CoStar News. These sites, including rooftops, parking structures and industrial parcels, would support infrastructure such as passenger services, recharging stations and maintenance facilities.
Skyports plans to operate the vertiports like mini-airports, while third-party aviation companies will manage the aircraft. The air taxis, expected to resemble large drones, are designed for short-distance urban travel and may ultimately be pilotless.
The project aims to cut travel time drastically, transforming hour-long drives in Los Angeles traffic into 10-minute flights. Locations under consideration include connections between LAX, Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Orange County and even extended routes to Palm Springs and Santa Barbara.
The Federal Aviation Administration recently finalized operational regulations for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, paving the way for commercial rollout.
Backed by aerospace giants such as Boeing and Airbus, and startups like Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, the eVTOL industry is rapidly advancing. Archer’s four-seat “Midnight” aircraft, for example, can reach speeds of up to 150 mph with minimal noise.
Despite the promise, challenges remain. Each vertiport must meet FAA regulations and accessibility standards and require substantial power — up to 4,000 amps of clean electricity. Still, developers are optimistic. Skyports’ modular vertiport designs can adapt to urban environments and are already in test mode internationally.
In L.A., partnerships with institutions like University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Rams signal strong local interest in air taxis. If infrastructure is completed in time, Los Angeles could emerge as a national leader in urban air mobility, with a high-profile customer base for the Olympics.
Commercial Brokers International was co-founded by former Kennedy Wilson executives George Pino and Joe Killinger in 2006. The partners also worked together previously at The Sands Group, the auction operation of Fred Sands Realty.
— Joel Russell
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