Amazon has recently selected Darlington, a town in the northern part of England, as the primary site for its anticipated U.K. drone delivery expansion.
The tech giant had initially planned for the U.K. and Italy expansion of Prime Air back in 2024, but several setbacks led to a delay, making the company less forthcoming about its latest timeline. The launch is still in its early stages and much work is left to be carried out, including finalising agreements with the local authorities and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Once these necessary agreements are secured, Amazon plans to commence the hiring process for team members dedicated to drone delivery. The tech giant has also earmarked a specific fulfillment center in the town with a population of approximately 107,000. Furthermore, the company has announced its intentions to seek valuable feedback from the Darlington community concerning the expansion.
The decision to focus on smaller towns instead of large cities for trial runs is because of the stringent regulations in larger airspaces. Prime Air made its maiden voyages in Lockeford, California, and shortly after in College Station, Texas.
Despite ceasing operations in California less than two years after its launch, Amazon has stood its ground in College Station and introduced its service to West Valley Phoenix. There is also speculation about the launch of a third U.S. location, which Amazon has kept under wraps.
Since its inception, Prime Air has successfully delivered “thousands” of packages in under an hour, showcasing their promise of speedy delivery. On completion of the project, Darlington inhabitants will have the choice of availing the Prime Air delivery option for eligible items through the Amazon U.K. website. Stay tuned for more exciting news on this tech front.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
