Mesa Air Group has signed and agreement with aerospace technology company Flirtey for four delivery drones with an option for up to 500 more. With the new partnership, Mesa becomes the first scheduled U.S. airline to launch a drone delivery business.
On Thursday (October 21, 2021), Mesa Air Group announced the signing of an agreement with aerospace technology company Flirtey for the purchase of four delivery drones, with an option for 500 more. The landmark agreement will make Mesa the fist scheduled airline in the U.S. to launch a drone delivery business. Initially, the carrier will focus on the last-mile food delivery industry, with the goal of delivering food and beverages in the U.S., with plans to expand the business in the U.S. and New Zealand. Flirtey will supply their best-in-class Flirtey Eagle, an advanced electric drone that conducts precision deliveries to homes and businesses, along with their autonomous software platform that conducts autonomous flight operations.
In Thursday’s announcement, Mesa Air Group’s Chairman and CEO, Jonathan Ornstein, said,
"Mesa is excited to partner with Flirtey to become the first scheduled airline to launch drone delivery in the U.S. Drone delivery is a huge market and it's here now. This is the future of small package last mile delivery.”
Also commenting on the partnership milestone, Flirtey’s Founder and CEO Matthew Sweeny, added,
“Flirtey is excited to partner with Mesa to operationalize our best-in-class drone delivery aircraft and autonomous software platform. With Mesa's operational excellence, we look forward to rapidly expanding drone delivery focusing on the trillion dollar last-mile food delivery market.”
Flirtey's Eagle Aircraft Drone Delivery System - Courtesy Flirtey/Mesa Air Group
The partnership will prioritize data collection and operational excellence, leveraging Mesa’s experience as a leading regional airline with around 450 daily departures across the U.S., and Flirtey’s technical experience with over 6,000 U.S. drone deliveries and technology protected by over 1,000 patents issued and pending in the U.S. and globally. Flirtey’s aircraft are manufactured in the U.S.
Phoenix Arizona-based Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MESA) is the holding company of Mesa Airlines which offers scheduled service to 95 cities in 38 states, Washington D.C. and Mexico, as well as cargo services out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The carrier operates around 450 daily departures with a fleet of 163 aircraft and currently has approximately 3,100 employees. Mesa Air operates flights as American Eagle, United Express or DHL Express, pursuant to capacity purchase and flight service agreements with the mainline passenger and cargo carriers.
Flirtey is a U.S aerospace technology company that sells full-stack drone delivery hardware and software systems. The company is a pioneer in the commercial drone delivery industry, with a mission to save lives and improve lifestyles by making delivery instant for all. Flirtey made history in 2015 when they conducted the first ever FAA-approved drone delivery. Since then, the Flirtey has gone on to become the first company to perform home delivery, commercial delivery, and AED drone delivery in the U.S. The company has worked in partnership with NASA, the City of Reno, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, emergency medical services provider REMSA, and various other commercial partners to create a best-in-class last-mile drone delivery system.
Source(s): Mesa Air Group, Flirtey