Pilot program to launch in Virginia next month;
Wing drones to transport select FedEx and Walgreens deliveries
directly to homes through the air
Wing Aviation LLC, an Alphabet company, is collaborating with
FedEx Express and Walgreens to launch a first-of-its-kind drone
delivery service in Christiansburg, Virginia next month. The pilot
program will demonstrate the many benefits of drone delivery to
communities by exploring methods to enhance last-mile delivery
service, improve access to health care products, and create a new
avenue of growth for local businesses.
Drone delivery in the United States has historically been
limited to small-scale demonstrations on designated test sites, or
extremely short flights along pre-planned, fixed routes – all
within the visual line of sight of the drone operator. Earlier this
year, Wing became the first drone operator to be certified as an
air carrier by the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing it to
deliver commercial goods to recipients that may be miles away.
Wing’s pilot program in Virginia will be conducted as part of the
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Unmanned Aircraft System
Integration Pilot Program (IPP).
FedEx customers who live within designated delivery zones in
Christiansburg, Virginia, and who opt in to the Wing delivery
service, will be able to receive their packages via drone during
the trial, provided certain operating conditions are met. “FedEx is
constantly innovating and testing solutions to meet growing
customer needs, and we are excited to add this pilot to our
portfolio of first in-kind innovation,” said Don Colleran, FedEx
Express President and CEO.
The Walgreens and Wing offering will provide greater convenience
and access to health and wellness, food, beverage and convenience
products by making over-the-counter medicines and other items
available to local residents for delivery on-demand, through the
air, within minutes after they are ordered. The companies will use
the pilot program to further explore the future of retail delivery
as part of their collaboration.
“Through our partnership with Wing, Walgreens will be the first
U.S. retailer to offer an on-demand commercial drone delivery
option in the U.S., allowing us to explore another omni-channel
offering for the delivery of products and services our customers
want and need - wherever, whenever and however they may want them,”
said Vish Sankaran, chief innovation officer, Walgreens Boots
Alliance, Inc. “With this pilot, Walgreens will be in a unique
position to capitalize on the convenience of drone delivery if and
when it should expand, with approximately 78 percent of the U.S.
population living within five miles of a Walgreens store.”
Also as part of the trial, Wing is working with beloved local
Southwest Virginia retailer, Sugar Magnolia, to make a range of
sweet and savory treats, gifts, stationery, and paper goods
available for local residents to order by drone.
“Wing has spent the last seven years developing a delivery drone
and navigation system for this purpose. By delivering small
packages directly to homes through the air in minutes, and making a
wide range of medicine, food and other products available to
customers, we will demonstrate what we expect safer, faster,
cleaner local delivery to look like in the future,” said Wing CEO
James Ryan Burgess.
Christiansburg was selected as the pilot location because Wing
has been closely partnered with neighboring Virginia Tech’s
Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) for the past several
years.
Learn More:
Area residents interested in signing up for the trial, or
learning more about any of the trial services, can visit
wing.com/Virginia.
About Wing
Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has built a small, lightweight
aircraft and navigation system that can deliver small
packages--including food, medicine and household items--directly to
homes in minutes. Created in 2012, Wing has conducted more than
80,000+ flights across three continents. We believe drone delivery
will improve the way our cities operate by reducing road congestion
and creating new economic opportunities for local businesses. For
more information visit wing.com.
Wing Contact: Alexa Dennett
wing.com
press@wing.com
@Wing
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses
worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and
business services. With annual revenues of $70 billion, the company
offers integrated business solutions through operating companies
competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the
respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most
admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 450,000
team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and
professional standards and the needs of their customers and
communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and
possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com.
FedEx Contact: Isabel Rollison
policy.fedex.com
Isabel.Rollison@fedex.com
@FedExPolicy
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore
chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global
pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8
million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each
day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer
goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and
wellness services and advice. As of August 31, 2018, Walgreens
operates 9,560 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately
400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider
retail clinic services.
Walgreens Contact: Molly Sheehan
news.walgreens.com
Margaret.sheehan@walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190919005293/en/
Wing Contact: Alexa Dennett wing.com press@wing.com @Wing FedEx
Contact: Isabel Rollison policy.fedex.com Isabel.Rollison@fedex.com
@FedExPolicy Walgreens Contact: Molly Sheehan news.walgreens.com
Margaret.sheehan@walgreens.com @WalgreensNews
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