Amazon discontinues drone deliveries in California

Amazon has confirmed that it is ending its Prime Air drone delivery operations in Lockeford, California, marking a setback for the retail giant’s ambitious drone delivery program. The small Central California town of 3,500 residents was the second U.S. location for Prime Air, following College Station, Texas. The drone delivery operations were announced in June 2022, but now Amazon is not offering specific details on the reasons for the closure.

Despite the closure in Lockeford, Amazon is reassuring customers that they will continue to serve the community with other delivery methods and will offer current employees opportunities at other sites. The company is also moving forward with drone deliveries in College Station and is set to kick off operations in Tolleson, Arizona later this year.

Tolleson, a city in Maricopa County with a population of just over 7,000, is located in the western part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Amazon’s Prime Air service in Tolleson will bring same-day deliveries to customers in the region through a hybrid fulfillment center/delivery station.

The slow expansion of Prime Air has been attributed to regulatory challenges, but Amazon remains committed to the program. The company recently announced medication deliveries in College Station, demonstrating its dedication to innovative delivery methods. Local officials, like Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, see the introduction of drone deliveries as a step towards the future of package delivery and a way to promote technological innovation in their communities. Despite the setback in Lockeford, Amazon’s Prime Air program continues to push forward with plans for expansion in other areas.