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01 / 05
Chipotle Teams up with Zipline to Test Drone Food Delivery

CNBC | Air Transport

Chipotle Teams up with Zipline to Test Drone Food Delivery

“Select customers in the greater Dallas area, beginning Thursday, will have the option to use what Chipotle is calling Zipotle delivery through an early access program in the Zipline app. Zipline’s autonomous aircraft will deliver orders to customers’ homes from a Chipotle location in Rowlett, Texas.

A small number of Zipline users will be able to order the full Chipotle menu to start, with a broader service launch in the weeks to come. Any potential expansions in the future would be based on results from the test, Chipotle said.

Chipotle employees will place the order into a Zipping Point, which allows aircraft to autonomously pick up the order for delivery. After flying to its destination, the aircraft will hover about 300 feet in the air, while the Zip, a robot, lowers to the ground.”

From CNBC.

Buenos Aires Times | Air Transport

Open Skies Lifts Argentina to Top of Regional Air Traffic

“Argentina recorded the highest percentage growth in air traffic in Latin America last year, with 33.3 million passengers travelling to, from and within the country.

The figure represents a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase, equating to some 3.9 million additional travellers, according to data released Tuesday by the Latin America and the Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA).”

From Buenos Aires Times.

Southwest | Air Transport

Southwest Airlines Launches Starlink High-Speed Wi-Fi Service

“Southwest Airlines Co. is taking inflight connectivity to new heights with Starlink. Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink will deliver next-generation WiFi across Southwest’s network of 11 countries, allowing Customers to stream, share, and scroll in the sky at lightning-fast speeds…

Southwest plans to rapidly integrate Starlink into its fleet. The first Starlink-equipped aircraft enters service this summer, and it will be available on more than 300 aircraft by the end of 2026. This is a major step in the carrier’s plan to upgrade all its aircraft with high-speed, low-Earth-orbit satellite technology.”

From Southwest.

bne IntelliNews | Air Transport

China Grants First Commercial Licences for Flying Taxis

“China has granted the world’s first commercial licences for autonomous flying taxis, marking a significant milestone in the global push for urban air mobility…

The announcement signals the start of what China has called ‘a new era in low-altitude economy’ with ambitions to lead in a sector still in experimental stages elsewhere. Chinese planners are preparing the groundwork for a business that could generate up to CNY2 trillion ($280bn) in annual output as soon as 2030, Urban Land reports.

Guangzhou-based EHang received a type certificate for its EH216-S model in October 2023, and was awarded its production certificate in April 2024. On December 28, the CAAC granted the company an operational permit, allowing it to provide passenger-carrying flights in designated airspaces…

Autoflight, headquartered in Shanghai, also confirmed it had received approval for its V400 Albatross cargo drone, with plans to expand to passenger services under its subsidiary Autoflight X.

China’s regulators have moved more swiftly than their counterparts in the US and Europe, where companies such as Joby Aviation, Lilium and Volocopter are still undergoing flight testing and certification. The US Federal Aviation Administration has indicated that commercial operations for passenger-carrying eVTOLs are unlikely before 2028.”

From bne IntelliNews.