Amazon Prime Air officially launches in the UK

Amazon has officially expanded its Prime Air drone delivery service to the United Kingdom, marking the first time the company has made the service available to customers outside the United States.

The service operates from Amazon’s fulfillment center near Darlington, England. Customers located within approximately 12 kilometers of the facility can now receive eligible orders by drone, with deliveries promised in 60 minutes or less.

Amazon’s first international Prime Air market

Amazon announced the UK launch in a post published on Amazon News earlier this month. The company had previously been working toward bringing Prime Air to Europe, with pilot programs announced in 2023.

Regulatory approvals meant that the rollout took time. Amazon began testing drone deliveries in the UK and Italy in 2024, following earlier preparations to operate the technology under European aviation rules.

The Darlington facility was identified as Amazon’s first UK Prime Air location in January. With the service now officially available, the company appears to be moving beyond its earlier testing phase.

What can customers order by drone?

There are some restrictions on which products qualify for drone delivery. Items must weigh no more than 2.2 kilograms and must be small enough to fit inside a large shoebox.

Amazon says millions of products are eligible for the service. Customers who qualify can select drone delivery as an option during checkout.

There is also a practical requirement: the delivery location needs to have a suitable outdoor area, such as a garden, yard or driveway, where the drone can safely leave the package.

No extra delivery fee for now

For the time being, Prime Air is included with an Amazon Prime membership, meaning customers do not pay an additional charge for drone delivery.

That could change as Amazon expands the service. The company has indicated that fees could potentially be introduced when drone delivery becomes available across wider areas, with pricing potentially comparable to other premium fast-delivery options.

Amazon says its drones can travel at speeds of up to around 112 kilometers per hour. They use cameras and sensors to navigate and identify potential obstacles while flying.

The use of cameras in populated areas could also raise privacy questions in Europe, where businesses must comply with strict data-protection requirements. Amazon has not provided further details about how the cameras used by Prime Air will address those concerns.

For now, the UK launch represents a significant step for Amazon’s drone-delivery ambitions and gives British customers their first opportunity to receive eligible ecommerce orders directly by air.