Amazon is preparing to launch drone deliveries in the UK

Amazon’s first UK drone deliveries will take flight in Darlington, England, the company announced on Monday. The e-commerce giant is taking the initial steps to get Prime Air deliveries off the ground in the area, working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for authorization to fly its drones in the airspace.

Once Amazon has approval, it will begin hiring team members to launch drone deliveries out of its Darlington fulfillment center. Amazon didn’t share any details about when Prime Air deliveries will launch in the area.

“We’ll continue to work closely with the CAA as they develop the regulatory framework to make commercial drone delivery a reality in the UK,” Amazon said in its announcement. “In the meantime, we will also engage with the Darlington community to answer questions and collect feedback as we seek to offer this new delivery option.”

Other drone companies have already launched delivery services in the UK, with Skysports partnering with the Royal Mail service for commercial deliveries, and Zipline teaming up with the National Health Service to deliver medical supplies to hospitals and other healthcare providers.

Amazon first announced plans to expand its delivery program to the UK in 2023. The company also completed its first drone delivery test in Italy last year using its new MK30 drone, which is supposed to fly farther – and more quietly – compared to its other drones. Amazon already launched the MK30 drone in Arizona and Texas, where it has approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).