• The drone-based delivery provider Flirtey has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with aviation company Mesa Air Group to launch a commercial drone-based delivery service in the US, with plans to expand the service to New Zealand in the future. With this, Mesa becomes the first airline to start a drone-based delivery service in the US. 

• As per the agreement, Flirtey will supply four delivery drones and its autonomous software platform to Mesa for the airline to conduct commercial delivery operations. Mesa is also given the option to order an additional 500 units in the future. 

• The companies will initially utilize the drone for last-mile food delivery.

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake: This news comes just over six months after Flirtey announced the completion of its drone technology and the opening of preorders, with manufacturing expanding in Reno, Nevada. The technology has more than 1,000 issued and pending patent claims and more than 6,000 flights have been conducted in the US, Australia, and New Zealand to date, in partnership with companies including Domino’s, 7-Eleven, and Vault Health. However, Flirtey is not the only company to have partnered with an airline, though it is the first in the US. Its peer company Matternet partnered with Japan Airlines in September 2020 when entering the Japanese market.</ul>