More drones may soon be flying over the skies of Oxfordshire as Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery system is to expand in late 2024, the technology giant has confirmed.
The company said it would begin integrating drones into deliveries from some of its same-day delivery sites, including one site in the UK – with the location to be confirmed in the coming months.
The rollout is part of an expansion of drone deliveries within the company’s retail business, which will also see it be introduced in Italy and expanded to a third state in the US – drone deliveries already operate in California and Texas.
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Amazon previously ran a short trial of an earlier version of the Prime Air drone delivery system in Cambridgeshire in 2016.
Amazon said that it would no longer use standalone Prime Air drone delivery centres, but would integrate drones into its existing delivery network.
“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.”
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 announcement came alongside the unveiling 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.
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