Domino’s pushes for drone-delivered pizzas

Domino’s has joined forces with drone deliveries specialist Flirtey to launch the first commercial drone delivery service in the world. 

The two companies exhibited the first stage of their partnership with a demonstration of pizza delivery by drone in Auckland on August 25th. The successful demonstration was also attended by the Civil Aviation Authority and Minister of Transport Simon Bridges.  
The demonstration marks a final step in Flirtey’s approval process, following which the partnership will aim to connect people with pizza via CAA-approved trial store-to-door drone deliveries from a selected Domino’s New Zealand store with flights to customer homes later this year.  
New Zealand was selected as the launch market given its current regulations allow for businesses to embrace unmanned aircraft opportunities, which enable the gradual testing of new and innovative technologies.  
Domino’s Group CEO and Managing Director, Don Meij says the drone is the next stage of the Company’s expansion into the Artificial Intelligence space and gives them the ability to learn and adopt new technologies in the business.
“What drones allow us to do is to extend that delivery area by removing barriers such as traffic and access, as well as offering a much faster, safer delivery option, which means we can deliver further afield than we currently do to our rural customers while reaching our urban customers in a much more efficient time.”   
The trial flights are set to commence later this year following the beginning of daylight saving in New Zealand. Domino’s will offer Drone Delivery Specials at the launch of the trial with the plans to extend the dimensions, weight and distance of the deliveries throughout the trial based on results and customer feedback.    
Flirtey CEO Matt Sweeny said, “Launching the first commercial drone delivery service in the world is a landmark achievement for Flirtey and Domino’s, heralding a new frontier of on-demand delivery for customers across New Zealand and around the globe. 
“We are getting closer to the time where you can push a button on your smartphone and have Domino’s delivered by drone to your home.” 
Domino’s is looking at opportunities for drone delivery trials in its six other markets – Australia, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Japan and Germany.