Amazon plans to begin launching drone deliveries in the UK as part of a trial.
The US tech giant said the drone service, called Prime Air, is already operating in two locations in the US, delivering packages in 60 minutes or less using a fleet of Amazon-designed, built and operated drones.
The company said it was submitting a planning application to build drone flight operations at its fulfilment centre on the outskirts of Darlington, and was seeking clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the flights.
Amazon said it was “ready and excited to make drone delivery a reality for our UK customers,” starting from the Teesside town of Darlington.
“We have built safe and reliable drone delivery services elsewhere in the world in close partnership with regulators and the communities we serve, and we are working to do the same in the UK,” a spokesperson said.
“We are announcing that Prime Air is taking steps to start planning for initial flights from our fulfilment centre in Darlington.
“While there is still much work to do, this is an exciting step forward.”
The company said once it had planning permission and CAA clearance, it would begin hiring employees to launch drone delivery.
It also pledged to engage with the local community for feedback, and will hold a community event at the start of next month.
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Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said he had worked closely with Amazon and Teesside International Airport over the past 18 months on the project.
“I am delighted that Teesside will become home to Amazon’s first UK drone delivery service,” he said.
“In Teesside, we do things differently. We say yes when others say it’s too difficult. We are positive, ambitious, and we deliver.
“We are grabbing the opportunities and the optimism of the tech revolution – so it’s no surprise that Amazon has chosen Darlington as the location to launch Prime Air in the UK.
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“We have worked tirelessly with Amazon to bring this UK first to Teesside which will support high-quality jobs, deliver vital multi-million-pound investment in our local economy and drive growth across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
“The world is moving at pace – and if we don’t keep up, we will be left behind. If you’re not first, you’re last.”
Amazon has been developing drone delivery systems for a number of years and has previously tested drone deliveries in the UK, making the first autonomous Prime Air delivery in Cambridgeshire in 2016 during a trial.
