Amazon has announced the closure of a fulfilment center in Milton Keynes, affecting 590 jobs. The company is initiating a consultation process for the closure of the site, which was the first Amazon center established in 1998. Employees impacted 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 set to open in May, initially hiring 1,400 employees with plans to increase to 2,000. The Amazon sortation center, a separate part of its logistics operations also located in Milton Keynes, remains unaffected by these changes.
An Amazon spokesperson stated that the company regularly evaluates its network to align with business requirements and enhance employee and customer experiences. The priority during this transition is to support affected employees through the process.
In other news, Amazon has commenced testing drone flights in preparation for the launch of its UK airborne delivery service in 2026. The company has begun limited flights from its Darlington base but has not yet started drone deliveries for customers. Once launched, eligible Amazon customers in Darlington will be able to receive packages weighing less than five pounds within two hours.
The drones have been designed to operate quietly, with noise levels comparable to traditional van deliveries. Advanced onboard systems enable the drones to avoid obstacles and monitor airspace for potential clashes with other aircraft. Sophisticated technology, including machine learning models, allows the drones to recognize various objects and entities during flight.
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