Hong Kong is stepping into the future of food delivery, with Keeta set to launch drone services in the territory next month. The food delivery platform will start by giving Ma On Shan residents the option of ordering food from restaurants at the Hong Kong Science Park, which they can pick up at a retrieval spot in Ma On Shan Park. Deliveries will travel over Sha Tin Hoi instead of via the Tate’s Cairn Highway, and take half the time to reach their destination.
Keeta’s Drone Delivery Trial in Hong Kong
The new service will be run by Keeta Drone, the platform’s self-flying delivery system, which recently did a test run to Science Park. The company has been prepping for this launch since late last year, and once it’s up and running, customers can order from Science Park eateries like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut and pick up their deliveries at Ma On Shan Park. Keeta Drone officials say this will greatly reduce travel times in a city like Hong Kong, known for its hilly landscape and numerous waterways.
Keeta Drone already operates 53 routes in major Mainland Chinese hubs — including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen — and as of late 2024, completed 40,000 deliveries in the country. It also expanded overseas in December by debuting a service to deliver food, medicine, and parcels in Dubai Silicon Oasis. Drone deliveries are common in the US, where companies like Amazon, Walmart, Wing, and Zipline use this option to send customers groceries and packages.
Hong Kong’s Sandbox Project
Keeta’s new offering is part of Hong Kong’s Sandbox project that kicked off last year to create a low-altitude economy in the city. According to media reports, SF Express has proposed express delivery services between Cyberport and outlying islands like Cheung Chau and Lamma Island. However, for the initiative to truly take off, the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order needs to be amended to increase the weight limit of drones from 25kg to 150kg and allow them to fly out of the pilot’s view.
Image credit: Keeta
