Amazon halts plans for drone delivery in Italy
FILE PHOTO: Flags flutter outside a distribution centre at Amazon's logistics operations in Italy, in Passo Corese, Italy March 22, 2021. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo
ROME, Dec 28 : Amazon said on Sunday it has decided not to pursue plans to deliver goods by drone in Italy, saying that while it had made good progress with aerospace regulators, broader business regulatory issues did not support the project.
The Italian civil aviation ENAC called the decision unexpected, saying in a statement on Saturday the move was motivated by company policy, linked to "recent financial events involving the Group".
The company had announced in December 2024 the successful completion of initial tests of delivery drones in San Salvo, a town in the central Abruzzo region.
In a statement to Reuters on Sunday, Amazon said:
"Following a strategic review, we have decided to stop our commercial drone delivery plans in Italy".
"Despite positive engagement and progress with Italian aerospace regulators, the broader business regulatory framework in the country does not, at this time, support our longer-term objectives for this program," Amazon added.
