The Tech

Alibaba is using drones to deliver tea

Drones - Alan Dave

Drones - Alan Dave

Drones - Alan Dave

Drones - Alan Dave

It's a bird ... It's a plane ... Nah, that's just an Alibaba drone.

The Chinese e-commerce titan is the latest company to experiment with delivery drones, launching a small pilot project in three Chinese cities.

Alibaba (BABA, Tech30) said it will use drones to deliver packets of ginger tea to 450 customers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
The trial service will be offered on a first come, first served basis starting Wednesday.

The logistics and regulatory approvals were being handled by YTO Express, an Alibaba spokeswoman said.

Securing approval for a wider drone delivery program in China could prove much more difficult. As much as 80% of the country's airspace is controlled by the military.