Amazon is preparing to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service across Darlington and eventually the wider UK after completing hundreds of successful test flights in County Durham.
Amazon says it is close to securing approval to expand its drone delivery service across the whole of Darlington, marking a major step towards bringing autonomous deliveries to more customers across the UK.
The technology giant launched a limited Prime Air trial in the County Durham town in February, allowing eligible customers within a 7.5-mile radius of its UK test site to receive selected items by drone.
Following more than 500 flights and deliveries, Amazon has now applied to the Civil Aviation Authority for permission to extend coverage across the entire town.
David Carbon, vice-president of Prime Air, said the company expects approval “very soon” and that the long-term ambition is to make drone deliveries available across the UK.
He said: “We’re on the precipice of expanding across all of Darlington. The ultimate objective is to bring this to customers across the UK.”
The service currently allows eligible Amazon Prime customers to receive items weighing less than 5lb within two hours. Packages must fit inside a large shoebox, with customers needing a suitable garden, yard or driveway area for delivery.
Amazon said around 68 per cent of items ordered by customers fall within the weight and size requirements for drone delivery.
During checkout, customers are shown a satellite map of their property with suggested delivery zones created using Amazon’s digital mapping and artificial intelligence systems.
They can then choose where the drone should drop off the package.
Carbon said drones provide several advantages over traditional delivery vans, particularly for speed and reducing congestion.
He said: “If you need something in 60 minutes or less, it’s much easier to go from point to point faster.”
The service is currently included at no extra charge for Amazon Prime members, although the company said pricing would be reviewed as the programme expands.
Prime Air has not been without challenges.
In July, an Amazon drone crashed into a garden in Darlington during a delivery attempt.
The company said nobody was injured and the drone responded as designed, safely coming to the ground.
Carbon said safety remained the company’s highest priority, explaining that the drones were designed without single points of failure and operated within aviation safety requirements.
The MK30 drones used by Amazon are designed to be quieter and difficult to spot from the ground while operating at around 400 feet.
Weather conditions remain a limitation, with flights cancelled during unsuitable conditions such as strong winds.
Amazon said customer feedback from the Darlington trial has been overwhelmingly positive, with residents using the service for everyday essentials including healthcare products, baby supplies and electronics.
If approved, the expansion could represent one of the biggest steps yet towards mainstream drone deliveries in the UK.
Amazon delivery drones set for UK expansion
