Amazon announces the closure of a fulfillment center in Milton Keynes, affecting 590 jobs. The company has initiated discussions regarding shutting down the facility, which was established in 1998 as Amazon’s inaugural center. Employees impacted by the decision will have the option to transfer to the new Amazon site in Northampton or other locations.
The upcoming £500 million Northampton facility is set to commence operations in May, with an initial workforce of 1,400 employees, eventually expanding to 2,000 staff members. While the Amazon sortation center in Milton Keynes remains unaffected by the closure plans.
According to an Amazon spokesperson, the company continuously assesses its network to align with business requirements and enhance the working environment for employees and customers. The priority is to provide support to affected personnel throughout the transition process.
In other news, Amazon has commenced testing drone flights in preparation for the launch of its UK airborne delivery service in 2026. The company has initiated a limited number of flights from its Darlington base but has not yet rolled out the drone delivery service for customers. Eligible customers in Darlington will eventually receive packages weighing under five pounds within a two-hour timeframe.
Amazon’s Prime Air drone flights from the Darlington fulfillment center are in progress, with deliveries anticipated to officially begin in 2026. The company is collaborating with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure a smooth launch process for the drone delivery service.
The drones have been engineered for minimal noise levels comparable to traditional van deliveries. Advanced technology onboard the drones enables obstacle detection and avoidance during delivery, ensuring a safe and efficient operation. Machine learning models support the perception technology, enabling recognition of various objects and entities during flight.