- Amazon halts Prime Air drone deliveries in Lockeford, California town.
- Employees relocating, College Station deliveries continue alongside new Arizona site.
- Regulatory hurdles slow Prime Air’s expansion pace.
In a surprising move, Amazon has confirmed the termination of its Prime Air drone delivery operations in Lockeford, California.
This Central California town of 3,500 residents was the company’s second U.S. drone delivery site, following the launch in College Station, Texas. Lockeford’s operations commenced in June 2022.
Arizona, your drones are cleared for takeoff
The retail giant remained tight-lipped regarding the specifics of this setback. A spokesperson stated, “We’ll offer all current employees opportunities at other sites, and will continue to serve customers in Lockeford with other delivery methods.
We want to thank the community for all their support and feedback over the past few years.”
Despite the Lockeford setback, Amazon’s drone delivery ambitions soar on. College Station deliveries persist, and a forthcoming site in Tolleson, Arizona, prepares for takeoff later this year.
Tolleson, a city surpassing 7,000 residents in Maricopa County, nestles within the western Phoenix metropolitan area.
Regulatory roadblocks? that’s a no-fly zone
Expansion of Prime Air’s drone delivery service crawls at a snail’s pace, partly due to regulatory hurdles.
Throughout the project’s lifespan, Amazon appeared cautious, merely dipping its toes into the unproven waters of drone delivery.
Tolleson seems poised as the service’s sole expansion this calendar year, with additional news likely grounded until 2025. Whether Amazon will re-engage with California locales remains uncertain.
