Bringing Japan and the USA together
The Californian urban drone logistics platform Matternet is expanding operations to Asia through a new business partnership with Japan Airlines (JAL).
The partnership is to deploy the Matternet M2 drone system in Tokyo metropolitan government's new "drone logistics business development project", over a dense urban area in the heart of Tokyo, and utilise the system to assess drone delivery opportunities in Japan. Initially, it will transport prescription pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and blood units to simulate emergency response and disaster relief scenarios.
Meanwhile, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Atlas Air signed a codeshare agreement under which ANA will resell cargo capacity on flights operated by Atlas, starting on upcoming Friday, 2 October 2020, between Tokyo NRT and Chicago ORD. (ah)