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Amazon is discontinuing Prime Air services in one of the two cities where it launched its drone delivery program in 2022. News of the closure of the Lockeford, California delivery location comes on the same day the company announced a new air initiative in Arizona’s West Valley area.

Amazon explains that the decision to close the California delivery location will help the company prioritize the resources needed to continue growing the Prime Air program. “We will offer all current employees opportunities in other locations, and will continue to serve customers in Lockeford with other delivery methods,” Amazon said.

“Our vision for Prime Air is ambitious,” added David Carbon, who is responsible for all aspects of Prime Air, including design, certification, construction, operations and operations. “To achieve scale, we are focused on bringing drone delivery to more populated areas.”

The area currently in focus is Tolleson, a city located on the western edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona. There, Prime Air drones will be deployed for the first time from facilities adjacent to Amazon’s same-day delivery location.

These locations are hybrid in nature: partial processing center, partial delivery station. And they are close to major metropolitan areas. Amazon is currently working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local officials in Tolleson to obtain all necessary authorizations to make deliveries.

“Once we receive all necessary approvals, we will start contacting customers in the West Valley so they can receive drone deliveries when the service goes live later this year,” Amazon explained.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego added, “These types of deliveries are the future, and it’s exciting that it will begin in the Phoenix Metro Area. The shift to zero-emission parcel delivery will help us reduce local pollution and further strengthen our city as a hotbed for tomorrow’s innovative technology.”

The only other location where Amazon currently offers drone delivery is College Station, Texas. Drone deliveries have also been promised to customers in Italy and the UK by the end of 2024. However, additional US locations are not expected before 2025.

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