Amazon is set to shut down a fulfilment center, impacting 590 jobs. The closure of the Milton Keynes site, which was the first Amazon center established in 1998, is under consultation. Employees affected by this decision will have the option to transfer to the new Amazon facility in Northampton or to other centers.
The new £500 million Northampton building, scheduled to open in May, will initially employ 1,400 people, with plans to increase to 2,000 employees. While the Amazon sortation center in Milton Keynes, a separate segment of its logistics operations, remains unaffected by the closure plans.
An Amazon spokesperson mentioned that the company continually assesses its network to align with business requirements and enhance the experiences for both employees and customers. The consultation involves the proposal to close the Milton Keynes fulfillment center and provide affected employees with opportunities to transition to the state-of-the-art Northampton site or other Amazon locations, prioritizing support for the workforce throughout the process.
In related news, Amazon has initiated drone flight tests as part of preparations for the launch of its UK airborne delivery service in 2026. The company has begun limited drone flights from its Darlington base, with plans to offer drone delivery services for eligible customers in Darlington receiving packages under five pounds within a two-hour timeframe.
Amazon confirmed the commencement of Prime Air drone flights from its Darlington fulfillment center, emphasizing that deliveries have not yet started, with the official launch anticipated in 2026. The company is collaborating closely with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority in this drone delivery initiative.
The drones have been engineered for minimal noise levels, mimicking traditional van deliveries. They are equipped with advanced onboard systems to avoid obstacles during delivery and monitor airspace for potential disruptions. The perception technology relies on sophisticated machine learning models to identify various objects and ensure safe operations.