Meituan secures first nationwide low-altitude logistics operating license

Chinese food delivery firm Meituan announced that its self-developed fourth-generation drone has passed a regulatory review by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, earning the country's first operating certificate for nationwide low-altitude logistics coverage.

The license would allow Meituan to launch regular commercial drone delivery services across China, marking a significant milestone in the company’s push to scale up its autonomous logistics network.

Since the establishment of Meituan's drone unit in 2017, the company has opened 53 delivery routes in major cities including Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Nanjing. By the end of 2024, Meituan drones had completed over 450,000 orders.