Amazon is set to shut down a fulfilment center, impacting 590 jobs. The company is in talks to close its Milton Keynes facility, the first Amazon center established in 1998. Affected employees have the option to transfer to the new Northampton site or other locations. The Northampton building, costing £500 million, is slated to open in May, initially hiring 1,400 workers, with plans to increase to 2,000.
The Amazon sortation center, a part of its logistics business also located in Milton Keynes, is not affected by the closure. An Amazon spokesperson stated that the decision is part of ongoing network evaluations to align with business needs and enhance employee and customer experiences. The company emphasized support for affected staff during the transition.
In other news, Amazon has begun testing drone flights in preparation for launching its UK airborne delivery service by 2026. The test flights, originating from Darlington, are limited, with no customer deliveries yet. Once operational, eligible customers in Darlington can expect deliveries of packages weighing under five pounds within two hours.
Amazon confirmed the Prime Air drone flights from its Darlington fulfillment center, with deliveries expected to start in 2026. The company is collaborating with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority for a successful launch. The drones are designed to operate quietly, with sophisticated technology to avoid obstacles and monitor airspace for safe navigation.
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