Manna, the Clonskeagh based drone delivery company led by Bobby Healy, is expanding its services to Britain. The company has formally applied for a license to operate in England and has already secured commercial partners and selected a location for its venture. Manna aims to begin its drone delivery services in the summer of 2024, pending approval from England’s Civil Aviation Authority.
While Manna already has permission to operate drones in the European Union, they need separate permission from London due to Brexit. However, the Westminster government has adopted legislation similar to that of the EU, which should make the approval process relatively straightforward for Manna.
The company’s plans are supported by the Welsh Development Agency, which assisted in establishing a facility in Wales where Manna designed its drones. Bobby Healy expressed optimism about the Westminster government’s willingness to promote innovation, making it a favourable environment for Manna to operate.
Manna has conducted over 100,000 drone deliveries in trials in Oranmore, Co Galway, and Balbriggan, Co Dublin. They recently announced plans for a large-scale trial in Blanchardstown, Dublin, aiming to reach 1,000 deliveries a day with eventual plans to serve over 100,000 people. Manna has partnered with Falcon AM Real Estate to seek planning permission from Dublin City Council for an aerial delivery hub.
Manna has developed high-speed drones that can fly at 60km/hour and deliver various goods within a 3km radius in under three minutes. The company has raised over US$50m since its foundation in 2018 and intends to launch services in 25 locations next year, with 15 of them in Ireland. Their goal is to provide drone delivery services to between 1m and 1.5m people in Ireland by the end of 2024.
Manna has started trials in north Texas and is exploring potential delivery locations in mainland Europe.
