Amazon delivers its first package by drone

By

Matthieu Guinebault

Published
Dec 14, 2016

Three years after Amazon’s announcement about drone deliveries was greeted with skepticism, the company completed its first delivery via Amazon Prime Air. A package weighing 2 kg was delivered in Cambridge, UK, only 13 minutes after the order was placed. 

The announcement was made Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Twitter, in a message displaying the drone landing in the English countryside: "First-ever #AmazonPrimeAir customer delivery is in the books. 13 min -- click to delivery," he wrote of the December 7 order.

The drones must comply with local airline regulations, which is why Amazon tested its system in the U.K. and not in the U.S. On several occasions, the e-commerce giant has complained that the regulatory environment in the United States for these automated deliveries is more cumbersome.

In its video, Amazon noted that it is working with two customers receiving drone deliveries in the Cambridge area and soon hoped to expand to "dozens" near its warehouse.

Such an initiative is an important step for mega retailers like Amazon. Walmart, Alibaba, Google and the French La Poste are also in the process of developing their own drone devices. 

Amazon recorded $107 billion  in sales (93.9 billion euros) in 2015, up 20% (26% at constant exchange rates). Net income was $596 million, compared to a loss of $241 million in 2014.