FedEx Express begins drone delivery trial in Ireland

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, has announced the completion of its first scheduled drone delivery flight in the Republic of Ireland.

The initiative was completed in collaboration with Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) Air and marks the launch of a trial service delivering goods from FMCI, based in Shannon Airport, County Clare to Foynes Port, County Limerick, which is the Republic’s second-largest port operator and largest bulk port company.

The start of a month-long drone delivery trial

The drone deliveries were conducted by Skyports, an operator of cargo drone deliveries, and is part of a month-long trial during which a number of test flights will be conducted in the Mid-West region, between Shannon Airport and Foynes Port, with deliveries anticipated to be made in under 13 minutes.

Mike Roche, Operations Managing Director, FedEx Express Ireland, said: “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to deliver the world to our customers’ doorsteps and I’m delighted that this drone delivery trial is underway and an example of how we, as an industry, continue to explore new technology to help meet our customers’ evolving delivery needs.”