Manna Air Delivery Announces Pause of Delivery Operations in Dublin and Cork

20th June 2026, Manna Air Delivery has today announced it will shortly pause its drone delivery service in Ireland. 

The absence of a clear national policy framework for commercial drone delivery means there is currently no defined pathway for the sector to scale in Ireland. In the absence of such a framework, decisions are assessed locally, creating uncertainty around the planning and infrastructure requirements needed to support commercial drone delivery at scale. In such circumstances, Manna has concluded that it is necessary to pause its drone delivery operations in Ireland and to undertake a review of the future of those operations. 

At the same time, the United States, United Kingdom, China and the UAE are demonstrating rapid regulatory progress and strong commercial momentum. As a result, Manna has increasingly focused its investment, talent and operational resources on markets where large-scale drone delivery is now becoming a commercial reality. Manna has already received operational authorisation in both the USA and UK, and anticipates full authorisation to operate in the UAE this year. 

Planned expansion and future employment growth at local operational delivery hubs in Ireland will not proceed at this time. This does not affect Manna's continued investment in Ireland, which will remain the company's primary base for research and development, engineering, robotics, regulatory affairs, customer operations and corporate functions. 

Founded in Ireland, Manna has spent the past seven years pioneering commercial drone delivery, successfully launching and operating services in Moneygall, Oranmore, Balbriggan, Blanchardstown and Cork as well as expanding internationally to Helsinki, Finland and Texas. Over that period, the company completed more than 300,000 deliveries and partnered with over 120 businesses providing communities with rapid access to groceries, meals, pharmacy products, household essentials and other everyday goods. 

Manna remains deeply grateful to its customers, local businesses, employees and communities who helped develop and demonstrate the technology over the past seven years as it became recognised as one of Europe’s most innovative startups. 

Manna currently employs nearly 200 people across engineering, technology, operations and corporate functions almost entirely in Ireland. 

Manna is deeply grateful to its employees for their commitment, hard work and support over the past seven years. The company has begun engaging with employees and will continue to consult with them over the coming weeks while ensuring they are kept informed and supported throughout the process. 

In Manna’s most mature market, Blanchardstown, where the company has operated since February 2024, almost 90,000 deliveries have been completed. Manna believes this success demonstrates both strong community demand and the opportunity for Ireland to address the policy, planning and infrastructure gaps that can slow the deployment of new technologies, even where consumer adoption and commercial demand are already well established. 

The company remains confident that drone delivery can play an important role in strengthening communities by helping local businesses thrive, improving access to essential goods and services, reducing congestion and emissions, and ensuring that people of all ages and abilities can access what they need, when they need it. 

Manna remains confident that drone delivery can play an important role in Ireland and would welcome the development of an appropriate national policy and planning framework to support the sector's future growth. The company also said it remains ready to work with the Irish Government, the Irish Aviation Authority and other local bodies to help shape the National Drone Framework. 

Customers in areas affected will be notified directly through the Manna app and by email. Manna will work with local business partners to implement this in an orderly manner. 

About Manna Air Delivery 

Manna is the largest and most advanced drone delivery operator, dedicated to improving the world by making lightning-fast suburban deliveries affordable, green, and safe. With its proprietary technology, Manna ensures safe, sustainable, and fast delivery services, operating in the highest population density of any drone delivery operation globally. 

The company has completed over 300,000 successful deliveries and operates under the regulatory framework of EASA, setting the global benchmark for drone logistics. Partnering with both global giants and local businesses, Manna delivers a wide variety of goods including books, groceries, over the counter pharmacy, meals and essentials in just minutes, empowering businesses and significantly reducing carbon emissions. 

Founded in 2019 by Bobby Healy, Manna has raised over $110 million in funding to date.