Dive Brief:
- Flytrex is launching a new delivery drone that can carry up to 8.8 pounds of cargo. Flytrex says the drone is the largest in the restaurant industry, according to an emailed press release.
- The drone company and Little Caesars will partner to deliver pizzas from a Wylie, Texas restaurant. The drones can deliver the equivalent of two large pizzas and sodas.
- The partnership on the heavy-duty drone, called the Sky2, includes a direct integration with Little Caesars’ ordering systems, according to the press release.
Dive Insight:
Flytrex said the payload capacity can deliver enough food for a family-sized meal, including “two large pizzas + Crazy Puffs, Crazy Bread, and 20oz drinks,” per the press release.
Bigger drones could make it easier for Flytrex to capture higher-ticket orders, while also giving participating Little Caesars locations greater flexibility in delivery. The drone also has a 4-mile delivery radius; two years ago, the company said its drones had a 2.5-mile delivery radius, though it is unclear if that was a technical or regulatory limit.
Flytrex has been busy. The drone operator secured a partnership with Uber Eats in September. In August, it received FAA approval for “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” deliveries, which the company said would dramatically expand its ability to deliver to major markets. In June, Flytrex began working with DoorDash to deliver from dozens of restaurants in Texas, including Papa Johns.
Little Caesars has also made some investments in robotic delivery in the past, partnering with Serve in Los Angeles last year to offer autonomous delivery.
