Amazon is set to shut down one of its fulfillment centers, affecting 590 jobs. The closure of the Milton Keynes site, which was the company’s first center established in 1998, is currently under consultation. Impacted employees will have the option to transfer to the new Amazon facility in Northampton or to other locations.
The upcoming £500 million Northampton establishment is expected to open in May, initially hiring 1,400 workers with a plan to increase the workforce to 2,000. While the fulfillment center in Milton Keynes will be closing, the Amazon sortation center, a separate segment of its logistics operations located in the same area, will remain unaffected.
An Amazon spokesperson expressed that the decision to close the Milton Keynes fulfillment center is part of the company’s ongoing network evaluation to align with business requirements and enhance the overall experience for employees and customers. The priority remains to support affected employees throughout the transition process.
In a separate move, Amazon disclosed that it has begun testing drone flights in preparation for launching its airborne delivery service in the UK by 2026. The initial test flights are being conducted from its Darlington base, with plans to offer drone deliveries to eligible customers in Darlington for packages weighing less than five pounds within a two-hour timeframe once the service officially launches.
Amazon confirmed the commencement of Prime Air drone flights from its Darlington fulfillment center, emphasizing that while deliveries are not yet operational, the service is projected to be fully operational by 2026. The company is collaborating closely with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure a seamless drone delivery service.
The drones have been engineered to operate quietly, maintaining noise levels comparable to traditional van deliveries. Advanced onboard systems enable the drones to identify and avoid obstacles during descent, while cameras monitor the airspace for potential obstructions, ensuring safe and efficient flight paths. The technology utilized in the drones incorporates sophisticated machine learning models to recognize and navigate around various objects and entities during delivery.