Transportation News and Headlines

Irish Startup Manna Becomes the Engine for Uber’s European Aerial Ambitions

Uber Technologies has teamed up with Irish drone startup Manna to launch Europe’s first aerial food‑delivery pilot in Ireland, integrating Manna’s autonomous quadcopter system with the Uber Eats platform. The drones can transport up to 4 kg, travel 50 mph and deliver within three minutes over a 3‑5 km radius, costing roughly $4 per flight with a goal of $1 as scale grows. Manna, which has completed over 250,000 commercial drops and holds an EASA Light UAS Operator Certificate, will use 5G connectivity from Cubic Telecom to manage the fleet. Uber plans to expand the service to seven additional European markets by 2026, positioning the partnership as a potential disruptor of traditional ground‑based last‑mile logistics.