Matternet adds Beeline UAS to expand US drone delivery network
The companies will initially expand BVLOS operations in California, supporting food, retail and healthcare deliveries through Beeline's FAA Part 135 certificate.
Matternet has partnered with Beeline UAS to expand its commercial drone delivery network in the United States. Under its FAA Part 135 certificate, Beeline will operate Matternet’s drone delivery platform in key US markets, joining Ameriflight and UPS Flight Forward as a Part 135 operating partner in the Matternet network.
The partnership comes as demand for drone delivery continues to grow across the United States. Matternet and Beeline will initially focus on expanding Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Beeline will operate Matternet’s technology to support the company’s delivery-as-a-service agreements with customers in the food, retail and healthcare sectors.
According to Matternet, autonomous aerial delivery can provide faster and more cost-efficient transport of time-sensitive goods in regions with heavy traffic congestion and high labour costs.
“We are proud to welcome Beeline UAS to our network of Part 135 operators,” said Andreas Raptopoulos, Founder and CEO of Matternet.
He said long-term leadership in drone delivery will depend on the ability to safely deploy, manage and scale fleets of autonomous aircraft through an integrated technology platform and a strong operating network. He added that Beeline will help increase Matternet’s capacity to expand efficiently into new markets.
Toby Woods, Founder and CEO of Beeline UAS, said the company’s mission is to enable safe, compliant and scalable drone operations. He said Matternet has built one of the most advanced drone delivery platforms and that the partnership will support its next phase of growth while bringing drone delivery to more communities across the United States.
Matternet said its multi-operator strategy is designed to provide the operational capacity, geographic reach and flexibility needed to support commercial growth while maintaining high standards of safety and regulatory compliance. The addition of Beeline further strengthens the company’s operating network and supports the expansion of commercial drone delivery across the United States.