Meituan, China’s leading takeaway platform, has recently received the country’s first Low Altitude Logistics Operation Certificate (OC) for itself-developed fourth-generation drone. The certification, granted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), enables Meituan to conduct regular nationwide commercial operations. As the first domestic operator authorized by the CAAC, the company can now offer logistics services across China, including cities, mountainous areas, and islands.
The Low Altitude Logistics Operation Certificate permits companies to conduct low-altitude logistics or manned flight operations under specific conditions. Meituan’s certification provides three core authorities:
Full airspace access: The drone can independently plan routes in low-altitude airspace below 120 meters without needing case-by-case approval.
Full-time operation: It supports 24/7, all-weather operation, including night flights, made possible by an intelligent obstacle avoidance system.
Full-chain supervision: The drone is connected to the national low-altitude supervision platform, ensuring real-time data sharing for compliant operations.
Meituan’s self-developed fourth-generation UAV features a six-rotor design based on a double residual flight control architecture, significantly improving safety, cost-efficiency, environmental adaptability, and ease of maintenance compared to its predecessor. Its systems, including flight control, positioning, communication, and power supply, are redundantly designed to ensure reliability. The drone’s six-way sensing system enhances safety by supporting propeller protection, obstacle avoidance, circling, landing preparation, and emergency landings. Additionally, a highly reliable intelligent parachute serves as a final safety measure.
The drone has a maximum load of 2.5 kg, a maximum takeoff weight of 9.5 kg, and a fully loaded delivery radius of 5 km (round trip) or 10 km (one way). It can travel at a maximum speed of 83 km/h and is IP45-rated for protection. Designed to operate in a wide range of environmental conditions (from -20°C to 50°C), it can withstand rain, snow, wind, and low-light environments, making it suitable for over 97% of domestic cities.
Since its inception in 2017, Meituan’s drone division has opened 53 routes in Chinese cities such as Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Nanjing. As of December 2024, the company has completed over 450,000 orders, delivering more than 90,000 types of goods to various locations, including offices, communities, parks, and campuses.
On December 17, 2024, Meituan UAV received the first BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) commercial operation qualification for drone delivery from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. This certification acknowledges Meituan UAV’s operational and safety standards, marking its entry into the global market. With this certification, Meituan UAV launched regular drone delivery operations in Dubai, servicing areas like the Rochester Institute of Technology campus and Dubai Digital Park.
The Dubai qualification process involved rigorous evaluations, including environmental adaptations for high temperatures and poor signal conditions. This milestone allows Meituan UAV to explore new markets and provides a model for drone delivery services in other regions.
In Dubai, the introduction of drone delivery has been met with positive feedback, with users praising its speed and efficiency. For example, RIT students appreciated the convenience of receiving deliveries in under ten minutes, while Fakeeh University Hospital emphasized the importance of drones for timely medicine deliveries. The service aligns with Dubai’s carbon reduction goals, as drone deliveries are 84% more energy-efficient and produce 94% less greenhouse gas emissions than diesel trucks.
Mao Yiyan, Vice President of Meituan Drone Delivery, highlighted Dubai’s supportive policy environment as a key factor in the company’s decision to expand internationally. Meituan aims to leverage technology to drive the growth of the low-altitude economy globally, creating mutual benefits through international cooperation.
In November 2024, following the launch of Hong Kong’s Low Altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox, Meituan UAV submitted its application, providing operational plans, safety reports, and third-party certificates. After being approved as part of the first batch of sandbox projects, Meituan UAV will collaborate with regulators to conduct further safety, privacy, and signaling tests during the trial phase. Preparations for the first Meituan drone delivery route are nearly complete, awaiting final approval for launch. Major Hong Kong brands like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut have confirmed their participation in the service. To better meet local needs, Meituan has established a drone business entity in Hong Kong and plans to set up an R&D center while collaborating with local academic institutions on low-altitude economy research.
On March 20, Meituan’s drone, carrying supplies, successfully landed at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, completing its first low-altitude logistics task in Hong Kong. This marks the countdown to the launch of Hong Kong’s first regularized Meituan drone route. Despite the short straight-line distance of 1.8 kilometers, the actual travel distance extends to 7.8 kilometers due to cross-harbor routes and terrain, taking approximately 40 minutes. The complex geography of Hong Kong, with mountains and oceans, makes traditional road distribution difficult. Furthermore, the presence of scenic spots, parks, and closed-off areas complicates logistics.
To address these challenges, Meituan has been expanding its drone routes in Hong Kong to meet local demands more efficiently. Drones, being energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and high-efficiency, align with Hong Kong’s growing expectations for a modern logistics industry.
Currently, Meituan’s UAV division is in discussions with the Hong Kong Low Altitude Economy Development Working Group to plan distribution routes. The first planned route will focus on the “cross-sea + park” scenario, targeting areas with high user demand but limited access via traditional methods. The first take-off point will be at Pak Shek Kok Promenade in the Hong Kong Science Park, with the landing point at Ma On Shan Park across the sea, offering consumers faster and more convenient delivery services.
Before finalizing this route, Meituan UAV has been exploring drone logistics in Hong Kong for several years. By the end of December 2024, Meituan had completed over 450,000 orders, delivering a wide variety of goods to diverse locations across major Chinese cities. The successful implementation of a drone route at Futian Port in Shenzhen demonstrated the viability of drone deliveries, with many Hong Kong users already accustomed to ordering items like milk tea while traveling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. On peak days, delivery volumes approached 100 orders per day, reinforcing the demand for drone logistics services in Hong Kong.
This user feedback has solidified Meituan’s commitment to launching drone delivery services in Hong Kong, providing fast and convenient logistics for outdoor and challenging environments.
The issuance of the first nationwide operating license marks a significant milestone in the commercialization of China’s low-altitude economy. According to the China Business Industry Research Institute, the low-altitude economy is expected to exceed $206 billion in 2025 and reach $481 billion by 2030.
Source: Meituan, Sina, Sohu
