Amazon is set to shut down one of its fulfillment centers, impacting 590 jobs. The company is in the process of consulting on the closure of its Milton Keynes site, which was the inaugural Amazon center established in 1998. Employees affected by this decision will have the option to transfer to the new Amazon facility in Northampton or to other locations.
The new £500 million Northampton facility is expected to open in May and will initially hire 1,400 workers, eventually increasing to 2,000 employees. Although the Amazon sortation center in Milton Keynes, a separate segment of its logistics operations, is situated in the same area, it will not be affected by the closure plans.
An Amazon spokesperson stated that the company continually assesses its network to align with business requirements and enhance the experience for both employees and customers. The ongoing consultation aims to close the Milton Keynes fulfillment center and provide affected employees with the opportunity to relocate to the modern Northampton site or to other Amazon facilities. Supporting their workforce through this transition is a key priority for Amazon.
In related news, Amazon has begun testing drone flights in preparation for the launch of its airborne delivery service in the UK in 2026. Limited drone flights have been initiated from the Darlington base, but the drone delivery service for customers has not yet been officially launched. Once launched, eligible Amazon customers in Darlington will be able to receive packages weighing less than five pounds within a two-hour timeframe.
Amazon confirmed the commencement of Prime Air drone flights from its Darlington fulfillment center but clarified that actual deliveries are pending the official launch in 2026. The company views this milestone as a significant advancement in bringing drone delivery services to the UK and is collaborating closely with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority during this phase.
The drones have been engineered to operate quietly, with noise levels comparable to traditional van deliveries. Advanced onboard systems enable the drones to detect and avoid obstacles during descent, ensuring safe and efficient delivery operations. Cutting-edge perception technology, driven by sophisticated machine learning models, facilitates the recognition of various objects and entities during flight, enhancing safety and navigation capabilities.