Flytrex, today announced the launch of its drone delivery service in Granbury, Texas, just outside of Dallas-Fort Worth. As part of the Texas launch, Flytrex will be expanding its partnership with Brinker International (home of Chili’s® Grill & Bar, Maggiano’s Little Italy® and two virtual brands – It’s Just Wings and Maggiano’s Italian Classics), delivering food orders via drone to front and backyards of local residents, with a flight time of just five minutes.
The service will operate in cooperation with longtime partner Causey Aviation Unmanned under a newly granted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver allowing a delivery radius of one nautical mile – reaching thousands of potential homes. Eligible households that have opted into the service can order food via the Flytrex app.
“We’re thrilled to be soaring into the Lone Star State – an outsized achievement for ultrafast home delivery,” said Yariv Bash, CEO and cofounder of Flytrex. “After establishing drone delivery as a preferred option in North Carolina, we are excited to bring our unrivaled speed and convenience to Texas, where big things happen. We look forward to bringing drone delivery to backyards across the U.S. as we expand our service nationwide.”
This launch follows a series of additional milestones for Flytrex. Most recently, the ultrafast drone delivery company received a waiver from the FAA enabling it to expand delivery service to 10,000 homes in cities across North Carolina as North Carolina Department of Transportation’s partner in the FAA’s BEYOND program. Flytrex has been operating in the ‘First in Flight’ state since September 2020, beginning in Fayetteville, and expanding to the town of Raeford. In October 2021, Flytrex launched its third drone delivery station in North Carolina at the Holly Springs Towne Center, delivering food orders from It’s Just Wings®, to residents’ front and backyards. Flytrex has already completed thousands of drone deliveries – more deliveries via drone than any other company in the U.S. – conducting all operations while maintaining the highest safety standards.
“As we continue to drive awareness and grow our virtual brand, It’s Just Wings, we continue to explore and leverage technology and innovation,” said Wade Allen, SVP, Innovation, Brinker International. “With a focus on guest experience and convenience – alongside our killer wings – this new outpost in partnership with Flytrex is another exciting step in the right direction.”
While Dallas-Fort Worth is often referred to as a “metroplex,” Flytrex’s focus is on the suburbs. Although there are roughly 80 million homes in U.S. suburban areas, on-demand delivery has been largely seen as commercially unviable as traditional couriers are only able to make around two deliveries per hour in such areas. Flytrex is providing on-demand drone delivery directly to consumers’ homes in these underserved neighborhoods, offering a better, faster, more sustainable service at more affordable prices.
Since successfully launching the world’s first fully autonomous urban drone delivery system in Reykjavik, Iceland in 2017, Flytrex has played an integral role in getting drone delivery off the ground. Flytrex is working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, a lead participant in the FAA’s BEYOND program, tackling the remaining challenges of UAS integration.
