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Amazon has confirmed the location for the introduction of its drone delivery service in the United Kingdom.
The town of Darlington in the north east of England has been chosen as the hub, with the U.S. tech giant following through on a pledge to commence home deliveries, even if they are slightly behind schedule.
It had hoped to have the operation underway by the end of 2024, but now it has taken a significant step toward flying the drones in British skies.
Amazon has acknowledged the finish line is not yet in sight, with some regulatory obstacles to navigate. The company is said to be “ready and excited” for the next stage of its plans.
“We have built safe and reliable drone delivery services elsewhere in the world in close relationship with regulators and the communities we serve, and we are working to do the same in the UK,” said a statement from Amazon.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the British regulator, is still to set out rules on the parameters for commercial drones to operate within, but the public announcement of Darlington as the location will be interpreted by many as a signal that Amazon’s alternate home delivery service is on the way.
The company has already been working with the CAA as part of trials to expand the use of drones in the UK, together with five other organisations.
Amazon picks UK location for deliveries by drone https://t.co/SHOhaNQgob
— BBC Tees (@BBCTees) January 28, 2025
Why has Darlington been chosen?
Darlington has been chosen as the UK location, due to relationships built with local authorities and stakeholders.
Teesside Internatonal Airport is situated on the outskirts of the town, with its senior management team and air traffic control operation working with Amazon over the last 18 months as part of the overall plan for drone deliveries.
Amazon also has a large fulfillment site in Darlington, not far from the city center making it an ideal launch pad to reach customers.
The BBC reports that Amazon wants to operate on a seven and a half mile radius for the service, but in addition to CAA approval, it will also need to win over support from local residents.
A community event is scheduled for February, to relay plans and consult with local people.
The premise of the drone home service is that Amazon customers can order relatively small items and have them delivered immediately. The drones travel through the air to find a designated spot to safely drop the package on the ground.
As part of expansion plans for the UK, the flights are being trialied to ensure operators do not need to maintain sight of them.
Amazon has previously launched the home delivery service by drone in the United States, in locations such as Lockeford in California, and in Arizona.
Image credit: Via Midjourney
