A Flytrex drone on its way to a delivery. (Photo: Flytrex)

After Flytrex delivered 100,000 food orders by drone across the skies of North Texas and North Carolina, has taken the first step of its planned Dallas-Fort Worth expansion.

The Tel Aviv, Israel-based aerial food delivery service began buzzing in the skies over North Texas in 2022, partnering with Dallas-based Brinker International to deliver chicken wings from a Chili’s in Granbury, 30 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

Since then, the startup has made 35,000 food deliveries in Granbury alone and says it is the only company to make 100,000 food deliveries by drone in the U.S. And wherever Flytrex goes, people seem to want to try it out: 70% of households in their delivery area use the service, the company says.

A Flytrex drone approaching a delivery. (Photo: Flytrex)

Flytrex drones can reach speeds of up to 32 miles per hour and travel up to five miles round trip. They are classified by the FAA as commercial general aviation aircraft and have a “fully autonomous” system with multiple redundancies. Flytrex’s average delivery time is four minutes and 30 seconds – “significantly faster than the typical 8 to 12 minutes for a car delivery with no traffic and 15 to 20 minutes with traffic,” the company added.

When the drone reaches a customer’s home, the bottom of the drone opens and a cable lowers the customer’s package 80 feet to the ground, where it is gently dropped.

Partnership with Jersey Mike’s and Little Caesars – and planning 12 new DFW “stations” by 2025

Yariv Bash, co-founder and CEO of Flytrex. (Photo: Flytrex)

Today, Flytrex announced new restaurant partnerships and a new DFW delivery city.

The service now delivers orders from Jersey Mike’s Subs and Little Caesars Pizza, as well as Papa John’s, Raising Cane’s and “several other” restaurant brands.

Yariv Bash, co-founder and CEO of Flytrex, told Dallas Innovates that his company recently opened its second DFW “station” in Little Elm, a suburb west of Frisco, and is “already serving thousands of community members.”

“We plan to expand our services to other locations in the coming months,” Bash added. “Our focus remains on providing unparalleled convenience and efficiency to underserved suburban communities.”

Bash said Flytrex plans to open two more stations in the DFW area “by the end of this year” – and 10 more by the end of 2025.

“Our growth strategy is focused on bringing fast, efficient drone deliveries to suburban areas where traditional delivery methods often fall short,” he told us. “We are committed to meeting the needs of these communities with our innovative and scalable service.”

More restaurant partners may be added soon, too. Bash said Flytrex “adds new partners weekly.”

Flytrex updates follow news of FAA green light for Wing and Zipline

The news about Flytrex comes just weeks after the FAA announced it had granted Wing Aviation and Zipline International approval to fly commercial drones in the same airspace around Dallas without visual observers – a first in aviation history. The companies are drone delivery partners of Walmart, which announced in January that it now offers drone deliveries to up to 75% of Dallas-Fort Worth residents.

Customers receive their delivery, the drone’s cable is rolled up and it returns to its delivery location. (Photo: Flytrex)

Innovations to overcome “delivery challenges”

“Drone delivery is quickly becoming the norm in the U.S. as it satisfies Americans’ hunger for instant gratification while benefiting the community and the planet through reduced traffic congestion and pollution,” Bash said in a statement. “Flytrex is continually innovating to overcome delivery challenges. We ensure our drones can handle everything from large and heavy family meals to inclement weather and oddly shaped packages, making us pioneers in the practical application of drone technology in everyday life.”

This seems to have worked for restaurant brands like Jersey Mike’s.

“At Jersey Mike’s Subs, we’re focused on providing our customers with the best experience – and that includes delivery that fits their schedules and preferences,” said Scott Scherer, CIO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, in a statement. “By partnering with Flytrex, our fans can enjoy our authentic, fresh-sliced/fresh-grilled sub sandwiches how and when they want.”

For more information on how Bash went from co-founder and team lead of SpaceIL—a Tel Aviv nonprofit targeting the $20 million Google Lunar XPRIZE—to delivering sandwiches in Little Elm with Flytrex, check out our 2022 profile.

To view a map of Flytrex drone delivery zones in Granbury and Little Elm or to download the delivery app, click here.

Add yourself to the list.
Dallas innovates every day.

Sign up to stay updated daily on news and events in Dallas-Fort Worth.