Building the future of hot delivery by drone with Wing

May 11, 2026
May 11, 2026
A drone carrying a Papa Johns order flying through the air

 

Wing and Papa Johns are partnering to redefine autonomous quick service restaurant (QSR) delivery. Today, this collaboration takes off with an initial pilot program in Charlotte, North Carolina to deliver new Oven Toasted Sandwiches, alongside a joint R&D initiative to transform the future of the industry.

As Wing’s first direct partnership with a national restaurant brand, this collaboration deepens Papa Johns relationship with Alphabet, building on its existing work with Google Cloud. Merging Papa Johns operational expertise with Wing’s technical leadership is the recipe for solving last-mile delivery for restaurants across the U.S.

A drone carrying a Papa Johns order flying through the air

The blueprint for AI-powered commerce

The pilot is initially launching via the Wing app, with a vision for a deep, industry-first integration. Soon, Wing’s drone network will integrate directly with Papa Johns first-party app and Lou AI, its digital pizza assistant powered by Google Cloud. 

"We are fundamentally shifting how our customers interact with our brand on digital platforms,” said Kevin Vasconi, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Papa Johns. “With our agentic in-app ordering capabilities and Wing’s ultra-fast delivery, we are redefining the entire ordering experience, ending with fresh, hot Papa Johns delivered by drone right to our customers’ homes.”

Making “pie in the sky” a reality

Wing and Papa Johns are collaborating to tackle the industry’s most complex operational hurdles, including new ways to pack and load orders with optimal aerodynamic design for the future of pizza in flight. 

"This partnership is a true collaboration, bringing together Wing’s pioneering technology and Papa Johns commitment to innovation," said Heather Rivera, Chief Business Officer at Wing. “Together, we are defining a new blueprint for how agentic commerce and industry-leading operational design will shape the future of food delivery.”

A Papa Johns sandwich being placed into a box for delivery via drone

 

Starting today, residents near Sun Valley Commons in Indian Trail, NC, can be among the first to experience hot Papa Johns meals at drone speed. Eligible customers can order a curated selection of Papa Johns Oven Toasted Sandwiches, including Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Bacon Ranch, and Steak & Mushroom, exclusively through the Wing app.

Charlotte residents can check their eligibility and sign up for updates at wing.com/get-delivery.

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