Royal Mail says it plans to increase its use of drones for deliveries by creating 50 new “postal drone routes” over the next three years.
Its partnership with logistics drone company Windracers will provide “faster and more convenient services for remote communities”, Royal Mail said.
The routes are still subject to Civil Aviation Authority approval, but the drones will help to reduce Royal Mail’s carbon emissions and improve the reliability of island mail services.
Royal Mail currently uses ferries, planes and land-based delivery which can all be affected by bad weather.
The first routes for the new service include the Isles of Scilly, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands and the Hebrides.
Royal Mail said it was aiming to use up to 200 drones over the next three years, increasing to more than 500, servicing all corners of the UK.
The service has conducted four drone trials over the past 18 months, including flights on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, the Isles of Scilly off the Cornish coast and between Kirkwall and North Ronaldsay on the Orkney Islands.
Drones used in the trial can carry up to 100kg of mail for two daily return flights between the islands, with letters and parcels then delivered by the local postman or woman.
Simon Thompson, chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “On-time delivery regardless of our customers’ location or the weather, whilst protecting our environment, is our goal.
“Even though we go everywhere, Royal Mail already has the lowest CO2 emissions per parcel delivered. This initiative will help reduce our emissions even further.”
Stephen Wright, chairman of the Windracers Group, said: “The middle mile of supply and logistics, especially to remote locations, has long been overlooked by the industry and is ripe for innovation.
“We’ve spent the last five years focused on developing the most commercially viable essential logistics drones so we’re truly delighted to be working with Royal Mail on this ambitious and pioneering deployment of autonomous aircraft.”
Additional reporting by PA
