An Irish start-up hopes the UK’s first drone food delivery pilot will be operational in 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
With a fleet of specially designed 23kg quadcopters, Manna Aero has carried out more than 200,000 food delivery flights in the west of the country. DublinEspoo in Finland and Texas.
As the company aims to grow, CEO Bobby Healy said the UK “will be our most important market in Europe. It is by far the largest delivery market today. We think our products fit very well into the UK market, in particular.”
The company operates in West Dublin, Finland and Texas. Photo: Manna Aero
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“We are actively in dialogue with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and with NATS (National Air Traffic Services), the country’s airspace manager. And we plan to be there next year,” added Mr Healy.
Manna has made up to 50,000 deliveries in the D15 postcode of west Dublin since its trial began a year and a half ago.
The drones, which are almost entirely autonomous, hover at a cruising altitude of 80m, carrying everything from burgers and fries to fresh meat from a local butcher’s shop.
Coffee is the most popular order, Mr. Healy said, but “we were really surprised to find that we deliver a lot of fresh eggs. I think people are deliberately trying to test us to see if we can deliver something as delicate as eggs, but that’s not a problem.”
Customers should ensure that a landing area – usually a back garden – is free of obstructions.
This is verified by a human drone operator using a downward-facing camera, before the food is released. The packages descend on a biodegradable string, which is then cut.
“The average flight time is around three minutes. The benefit is that it’s quieter, safer, more environmentally friendly and better for business overall than the road alternative.”
But not everyone in Dublin’s western suburbs is as excited about the new service.
Mark Hammond, of Blanchardstown, said the noise the drones make “is very stressful, it absolutely is. When it’s constant you can’t relax. It’s across the whole estate, it’s not just me and (my wife) Florence, there’s a lot of worry about it.”
As the fourth quadcopter flew over their backyard in an hour, Florence said they “looked like helicopters.”
Another resident, Michael Dooley, is part of Drone Action Dublin 15.
Photo: Manna Aero
Manna Aero CEO Bobby Healy hopes to expand into UK
He described the noise of the drone’s flights as “very, very annoying. The drone, when it’s flying, has a very tonal, high-pitched, pulsing, intrusive noise. You’ll hear it coming from afar.”
Flying over at their lowest height, to release their cargo, Michael said the sound “is intolerable”.
Referring to a Trinity College study which found relatively low decibel levels, Mr Healy said: “We know from the science that we are much quieter than just general urban background noise. And we are continually investing. We have new technologies coming, in propulsion and propellers.”
“So I don’t think noise is the problem; I think perception is, like any new technology. We’ve had that problem with cars, with steam engines, we’ve had it with all the disruptive technologies – AI, 5G, etc. There’s a natural concern to understand. And I think over time it will be generally accepted.”
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The packages are lowered to the ground using biodegradable string. Photo: Manna Aero
The Drone Action Dublin 15 group is challenging the methodology of the Trinity College study.
Local TD (MP) Emer Currie said with concerns about “a new M50 motorway in the sky” it was a balancing act in the area.
“We have to be realistic about this. Yes, this is innovation and things are moving forward. But there are realities of the impact on a residential community that need to be considered. Innovation is important, as is regulation.”
The Irish government recently put in place a policy framework regarding drones, but critics say current regulations and legislation are woefully lacking.
Manna acknowledges that the regulatory environment in the EU is more drone-friendly than in other parts of the world, including the UK and US.
But if negotiations with British regulators prove successful, the company is determined to offer its service to British consumers in 2026.
Companies like Amazon have started planning drone deliveries in the UK. The company is one of six chosen by the Civil Aviation Authority to take part in new trials aimed at expanding the use of drones.
But the Irish regulatory framework is more favorable to drone companies.