Royal Mail announces 50 new postal routes powered by up to 200 drones

The Royal Mail in the UK has revealed a plan to open 50 new postal drone routes, due to be established between now and 2025. Subject to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval, the postal drone routes will be developed in collaboration with Windracers Group, a logistics drone company.

The expansion comes on the back of four drone trials that Royal Mail has conducted during the last 18 months, where it operated Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the Isle of Mull in Scotland, on the Isles of Scilly and between Kirkwall and North Ronaldsay, on the Orkney Islands. Currently, Royal Mail serves these areas with conventional aircraft, ferries and land-based delivery.

Unsurprisingly, Royal Mail hopes that using UAVs will reduce its carbon footprint. For reference, the company hopes to serve these 50 routes with up to 200 drones, a teaser of which it has already showcased. If all goes well, Royal Mail hopes to expand its fleet to 500 UAVs. However, Royal Mail only plans to deploy its UAV fleet to improve support for remote communities for the time being, such as the Isles of Scilly, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands and the Hebrides.

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