Amazon successfully tests using delivery drones in Italy
On December 5, 2024, Amazon announced that it had successfully completed an initial test of delivery drones in Italy, marking the first European country where the e-commerce giant plans to roll out the service. The test took place on December 4 in San Salvo, a town in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.
Amazon confirmed that it is continuing to work with Italian authorities to meet the necessary requirements for launching the service in 2025. The company had previously stated its intention to begin drone deliveries in both Italy and the UK by the end of 2024.
In August, the UK aviation regulator selected six projects, including Amazon’s, to test drone deliveries, infrastructure inspections, and emergency services. Amazon’s Prime Air drone deliveries, which first launched in December 2022, are currently operating in select U.S. locations in Texas and Arizona, with plans for gradual expansion, according to a company spokesperson.
The test flight in Italy was conducted using Amazon’s new MK-30 drone, an advanced system equipped with the company’s computer vision technology. This enables the drone to navigate safely around obstacles, ensuring the safety of people, animals, and property, while maintaining separation from other aircraft in the area.
