Manna Air Delivery Secures UK CAA SAIL III Operational Authorisation in Landmark Regulatory Milestone

Manna Air Delivery Secures UK CAA SAIL III Operational Authorisation

Irish drone delivery company Manna Air Delivery has become one of the first operators in the United Kingdom to receive a SAIL III Operational Authorisation (OA) from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), representing one of the highest-level approvals currently granted for drone operations in the country.

Recognition Through a Rigorous Assessment Process

The authorisation marks a significant regulatory milestone for Manna, achieved following a comprehensive evaluation process conducted with the support of regulatory consultancy Avtrain. The assessment was designed to verify the safety, operational capability, technical standards, and organisational management competence required for advanced drone operations.

Under the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) framework, a SAIL III authorisation applies only to operation types that require a high degree of regulatory scrutiny and must demonstrate robust safety assurances. Applicants are required to submit extensive supporting documentation covering operational, technical, and organisational dimensions — including detailed risk assessments, safety cases, and independent review reports.

Kevin Houston, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Manna, commented: "This authorisation is an important milestone for Manna and reflects the dedication of the entire company to meeting the highest standards of safety and operational excellence. The UK CAA has established a rigorous and highly professional evaluation process for advanced drone aviation operations, and successfully completing it provides strong independent validation of our systems, procedures, technology, and organisational maturity."

Independent Technical Review Strengthens Authorisation Credibility

During the assessment process, Marshall provided independent review and support in its capacity as a Recognised Assessment Entity for Flightworthiness (RAE(F)), adding an additional layer of technical and operational assurance to the authorisation process. The approval further reinforces external recognition of Manna's operational maturity, safety culture, and regulatory capabilities.

European and International Regulatory Achievements

The UK authorisation is the latest addition to Manna's growing portfolio of regulatory milestones across Europe and the United States:

• 2021: Manna became the first drone delivery company in Europe to receive a Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), granting the company the ability to self-authorise certain operations within the European regulatory framework.
• The company has since expanded flight operations to other European countries including Finland, and continues to pursue regulatory approvals and business development on a global basis.

$50 Million Series B Funding Backs Global Expansion

The regulatory achievement aligns with Manna's strong recent commercial momentum. In April 2026, Manna announced the closing of a $50 million Series B funding round, bringing its total fundraising to $110 million. The capital will be used to accelerate the company's aerial delivery expansion across the United States and Europe.

Manna plans to grow its workforce from the current 180 employees to more than 570, creating over 400 new positions in Ireland and the United States across disciplines including robotics engineering, software engineering, mechanical engineering, aviation operations, ground operations, and regulatory affairs.

The funding will also support the establishment of 40 operational bases across the US and Europe, building on active operations already underway in Ireland and Texas.

Expanding Platform Partnerships

Manna continues to broaden its platform partnership portfolio. In addition to existing collaborations with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and DoorDash, the company has added Uber as a new partner, enabling consumers to place orders through familiar food delivery apps while Manna provides the backend aerial delivery infrastructure.

Manna expressed its appreciation to the UK CAA for its professionalism and collaborative approach throughout the evaluation process, and extended its thanks to Avtrain for regulatory guidance and to Marshall for its active participation as a Recognised Assessment Entity.

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