LONDON: Just weeks after Amazon axed its plans to launch its first drone delivery service in Italy, the company has started to test drone flights in the UK ahead of the planned launch of an airborne delivery service there later in 2026.
The US tech giant said it has begun “a limited number of flights” from its base in Darlington, but clarified it has not yet launched a drone delivery service for customers.
Amazon announced last January that Darlington in northern England would be its test centre in the UK.
Amazon, which already delivers products in parts of the US by what it calls Prime Air, is playing catch-up with larger drone delivery rivals like Wing, which operates on behalf of WalMart and says it has carried out some 750,000 deliveries by air.
Amazon's decade-old ambitions for drone deliveries have not been without turbulence, and in December the e-commerce leader suddenly pulled its plans to launch drone deliveries in Italy, after more than two years of test flights and talks with regulators.
The company was forced to briefly pause US deliveries in October when two drones reportedly crashed into a crane in Arizona, causing damage and a fire.
Deliveries are not yet being made in the UK, but Amazon said the service is expected to officially launch in 2026.
When Amazon launches the service, eligible customers in Darlington will be able to receive their items within two hours, as long as the package weighs less than 2.2kg.
It will use its most modern drone, the MK30 drone, which Amazon says can avoid obstacles and ensure “the safety of people, pets, and property.”
"Our MK30 drones are designed to operate quietly and efficiently," David Carbon, VP of Prime Air, said.
"We look forward to demonstrating how this innovative technology can serve the people of Darlington while maintaining the highest safety standards."
The drones have been designed to be quiet – with noise levels in line with a traditional van delivery, the firm said.
It added: “As the MK30 descends for delivery, its onboard systems identify and steer clear of obstacles such as clothes lines or trampolines – items that might not appear in satellite maps.
“These same cameras continuously monitor the surrounding airspace during flight, determining whether evasive action is needed to avoid other aircraft entering the drone’s flight path.
“The perception technology relies on sophisticated machine learning models trained to recognise various objects, including people, animals, physical barriers, and other airborne vehicles.” – PA Media/dpa
