Archer Aviation and United Airlines announced a partnership today to launch a commercial air taxi route in Chicago. The companies plan to open the flight path between downtown and O’Hare International Airport in 2025. Besides being United’s headquarters and largest hub, Chicago's airport commute makes it an ideal testbed for flying taxis. For example, the drive to or from O’Hare, in the western suburb of Rosemont, can take anywhere from 35 minutes to over an hour, depending on traffic; even in one of the city’s elevated trains, it can take around 45 minutes. But Archer estimates a flight in one of its air taxis will only take 10 minutes to travel from O’Hare to its destination at a downtown helipad. The program will initially be limited to the mainline O’Hare / downtown route, but the companies eventually plan to add smaller paths to surrounding communities. Archer describes the upcoming route as “cost competitive” for passengers without going into specifics. But even if it’s initially limited to deep-pocketed business travelers, the program should be good for the environment. Archer’s air taxis use electric motors and batteries and don’t produce emissions. “This exciting new technology will further decarbonize our means of transportation, taking us another step forward in our fight against climate change,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “I’m pleased that Chicago residents will be among the first in the nation to experience this innovative, convenient form of travel.”<br/>
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Brussels Airlines will grow its European operations by 10% year-on-year this summer, after signing an agreement to wet-lease two Bombardier CRJ900s from CityJet and taking delivery of two additional Airbus A320s. Lufthansa Group’s Belgian unit says it will wet-lease a pair of CRJ900s from CityJet between 26 March and 28 October. It will use the aircraft to operate flights from Brussels to nine European destinations, including Bordeaux, Geneva, Lyon, Milan and Vienna. The agreement will enable Brussels Airlines to add Billund in Denmark to its network and boost frequencies to Berlin, Birmingham, Copenhagen and Hamburg. “This co-operation allows us to grow our fleet in a flexible manner and increase our European offer,” says Brussels Airlines head of network strategy and planning, Jan Derycke. In addition to the wet-leased CRJ900s, Brussels Airlines will take delivery of two more A320s this summer. It will add the jets to its permanent fleet, which will expand to include 36 medium-haul and nine long-haul aircraft. The A320s will be deployed across the carrier’s medium-haul network, with a focus on new destinations such as Djerba and Monastir in Tunisia. “With this fleet and network expansion, Brussels Airlines is achieving its targeted growth three years ahead of schedule,” says Derycke.<br/>
Dorothea von Boxberg is set to become the new CEO of Brussels Airlines. Subject to the pending resolution by the Board of Directors of SN Airholding, von Boxberg, who is currently Chairperson of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG, will take over in Belgium as of 15 April 2023. In her new role, she will also assume the function of "Representative of the Executive Board to the European Commission." Christina Foerster, Member of the Executive Board of the Lufthansa Group and Chair of the Board of Directors of SN Airholding, said: "I am very pleased that Dorothea von Boxberg, an experienced and skilled airline manager from within Lufthansa Group, is assuming the leadership position at Brussels Airlines. With her extensive knowledge and broad understanding of cargo and passenger airlines, she will continue to drive the successful transformation of Brussels Airlines, Belgium's national airline, in the coming years."<br/>