FedEx has successfully completed India’s first intra-city drone delivery flight trials in Bengaluru, marking a major milestone in the evolution of urban logistics. The trials were conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras under the FedEx SMART Centre research framework.
The pilot demonstrated significant efficiency gains, reducing a typical 53-kilometre road journey—often taking over an hour—to an aerial route of 39–42 kilometers, with delivery time cut to approximately 21 minutes.
The drone operations navigated complex urban airspace, including airport-controlled zones, with all required approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The initiative highlights the potential of drone-based mid-mile logistics to ease congestion, accelerate time-sensitive shipments, and reshape India’s supply chain ecosystem. Industry experts view the trials as a critical step toward scalable, technology-driven logistics solutions in dense urban environments.
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