Mike Leskinen: Latest News

United signs purchase agreement for up to 400 eVTOL aircraft (Photo: United) United Airlines thinks that in a few years, plenty of big-city customers will pay $100 or more for a one-way ride to the airport in a four-seat, electric-powered air taxi.The Chicago-based airline said Thursday that it invested $15 million in a startup manufacturer, and signed a "conditional" agreement to buy 200 of the tiny aircraft with options for 200 more.United said it expects to receive the first taxis — which will take off and land vertically, like helicopters — from Eve Air Mobility as soon as 2026.It's hard to judge United's commitment to the deal, since it wouldn't provide terms for the order. A spokesman said the conditions are standard when buying an aircraft that hasn't been certified by regulators, and they cover "a number of United’s business objectives."The stake in Eve amounts to less than 5% of United's second-quarter profit.READ MORE: United Airlines threatens to end service at major U.S. airportBut the deal fits United's pattern of announcing interest in startups that are trying to build and win regulatory approval for air taxis, like Archer, and supersonic planes, like Boom.Mike Leskinen, president of United's venture-funding arm, said the eVTOLs — electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft — will be ideally suited for traffic-clogged cities where United flies, including New York, Chicago and San Francisco.