Uber is entering the European drone delivery market through a partnership with Irish drone operator Manna, beginning in Ireland before expanding to other European cities. This marks Uber’s first drone deployment in the region, following an earlier US partnership with Flytrex.
Faster Deliveries in Minutes
The collaboration leverages Manna’s existing infrastructure, which currently delivers small items – including phone chargers, food, and pharmaceuticals – in Dublin and Cork in as little as three minutes. According to Manna’s COO, Eoghan Huston, the partnership aims to establish “the safest, fastest, and most sustainable delivery infrastructure” worldwide.
Uber’s move responds to growing consumer demand for faster delivery options. The company claims drone delivery can cut times from hours to minutes while also lowering costs and reducing emissions. Manna has already completed over 250,000 drone deliveries in Europe, including a deal with food delivery platform JustEat Takeaway.com, and has tested operations in Finland and the US state of Texas.
Competition Heats Up
Uber is not alone in pursuing drone delivery in Europe. Google’s Wing has tested delivery drones in Switzerland, Ireland, the UK, and Finland. In Norway, Aviant launched deliveries in Lillehammer in 2024, offering services for goods up to 1.5 kilograms, including groceries and medicine.
However, regulatory hurdles remain a significant challenge. Amazon cancelled its drone delivery program in Italy last December due to these issues, highlighting the difficulties of scaling the technology. Despite these obstacles, Uber’s entry underscores the rapid development of drone delivery as a viable alternative to traditional logistics.
Drone delivery is poised to become a mainstream service if regulatory barriers can be overcome, promising a future where consumers can receive everything from meals to essentials in minutes.
