Amazon is set to deliver parcels by drone to some areas of the UK from 2024.
Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery system is to expand to the UK in late 2024, the technology giant has confirmed.
The US company has been delivering packages by drone for almost a year in California and Texas.
Now for the first time, Prime Air is set to expand outside of the US including into the UK, Italy and into a third state in the US.
More from our #DeliveringtheFuture event: What if we told you your prescription medications could be delivered by drones? 💊
— Amazon (@amazon) October 18, 2023
Now, Amazon Pharmacy is making this possible, taking to the skies to help customers get the care they need quickly and conveniently. We’re on our way to… pic.twitter.com/ulJJNgn6ip
Amazon to commence drone deliveries in the UK in 2024
Amazon previously ran a short trial of a Prime Air drone delivery system in Cambridgeshire in 2016.
But Amazon revealed on Wednesday (October 18) that it would begin integrating drones into deliveries from some of its same-day delivery sites, including one site in the UK.
The location is yet to be revealed but will be confirmed in the coming months.
Amazon said that it would no longer use standalone Prime Air drone delivery centres, but would integrate drones into its existing delivery network.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “As part of our continued efforts to innovate for customers, we are excited to announce the expansion of Prime Air delivery internationally, for the first time outside the US.
“We have been delivering packages by drone for almost a year in California and in Texas.
“We have built a safe, reliable delivery service and have partnered very closely with regulators and communities.
“We will continue with that collaboration into the future to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers and the communities we serve.”
Here's the new MK30 drone, the latest addition to our Prime Air delivery system that will serve customers in three U.S. locations, as well as in the U.K. and Italy by the end of 2024.
— Amazon (@amazon) October 18, 2023
Some fast facts:
⚡ Operates safely and autonomously, using industry-leading “sense and avoid”… pic.twitter.com/BD2JRxeyyU
The US tech giant said it had been working with the UK Government and aviation authorities on the introduction of the technology to UK airspace.
The aviation minister, Baroness Vere, added: “Amazon’s announcement today is a fantastic example of Government and industry coming together to achieve our shared vision for commercial drones to be commonplace in the UK by 2030.
“Not only will this help boost the economy, offering consumers even more choice while helping keep the environment clean with zero emission technology, but it will also build our understanding how to best use the new technology safely and securely.”
The announcement came alongside the unveiling of the company’s latest drone for deliveries – the MK30 – which Amazon says can fly twice as far as previous Prime Air models, is quieter, and able to fly in more diverse weather conditions.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel