Amazon has announced plans to expand its drone delivery service into the UK in 2024.

Prime Air drone deliveries, which first rolled out in the US cities of Lockeford, California and College Station, Texas in 2022, will also roll out in Italy and several other unspecified European countries.

Amazon said the drone deliveries would be folded into its existing fulfilment network and deployed from its same-day delivery sites in the new locations.

Expected to have launched in all new locations by the end of 2024, including an additional unnamed US city, eligible Amazon customers can opt in to drone delivery and choose from thousands of items that weigh five pounds or less —including household products, everyday essentials, beauty items, and office and tech supplies.

“As part of our continued efforts to innovate for customers, we are excited to announce the expansion of Prime Air delivery internationally, for the first time outside the US We have been delivering packages by drone for almost a year in California and in Texas,” said David Carbon, vice president of Amazon’s Prime Air. “We have built a safe, reliable delivery service and have partnered very closely with regulators and communities."

Commenting on the news, UK aviation minister baroness Vere said: “Amazon’s announcement today is a fantastic example of Government and industry coming together to achieve our shared vision for commercial drones to be commonplace in the UK by 2030.”

She went on to say that the drones would “help boost the economy, offering consumers even more choice while helping keep the environment clean with zero emission technology.”

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