Amazon Scales Back UK Drone Delivery Ambitions Amid Regulatory Setbacks

Amazon has reduced its planned drone delivery flights in the United Kingdom after encountering obstacles with local planning authorities. The technology giant has informed the Civil Aviation Authority that it will operate a maximum of 10 drone flights per hour at its initial Darlington site, a steep reduction from the 21 flights per hour originally forecast.

This adjustment coincides with the local council granting only temporary permission for drone delivery facilities, compelling Amazon to limit construction to a single launchpad rather than the two previously envisaged. Planning documents indicate that the council withheld full approval due to insufficient evidence regarding the potential noise impact on nearby residents.

Local public opposition has compounded Amazon’s challenges. Model aircraft hobbyists have threatened disruption while several residents near the Darlington warehouse have already made noise complaints. As a result, Amazon has reiterated its commitment, stating that the frequency of flights will depend on service demand and regulatory permissions.

To offset the lower flight rate, Amazon will extend daily flight operations to 12 hours per day, from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week. This represents an expansion from the previously proposed eight-hour weekday schedule. In addition, the drone routes have been amended to maintain a greater distance from the nearest airport, reflecting ongoing concerns about airspace safety and regulatory compliance.

Amazon’s drone delivery project has endured significant delays since its initial announcement more than a decade ago by founder Jeff Bezos. Despite early flights in Cambridgeshire and subsequent trials in selected United States cities, progress has been consistently hampered by safety questions and technical incidents, such as a recent event in Texas where a drone damaged a residential internet cable. The company responded by compensating the affected customer and confirming the drone’s safe landing.

Having chosen Darlington for a six-month UK trial, Amazon continues to await final approval from the Civil Aviation Authority. A spokesperson affirmed that delivering packages in under two hours remains the company’s objective, highlighting ongoing collaboration with local authorities to bring innovative logistics solutions to the region.