Why Did Amazon Shelve Its Drone Delivery Program in Italy?

December 30, 2025 at 12:00 AM•2 min read

Amazon has halted its Prime Air drone delivery pilot in Italy, citing the country's business regulatory framework despite technical progress and positive engagement with ENAC.

Key Points

1Amazon halted its Prime Air drone delivery program in Italy after a strategic review.
2The company cited an unsupportive broader business regulatory framework for the decision.
3Italy's civil aviation authority, ENAC, called the move unexpected, linking it to "recent financial events involving the Group" (reportedly a tax dispute settlement).
4The decision follows successful initial delivery-drone tests completed in the Abruzzo region in late 2024.

Amazon has stopped its bid to launch commercial drone deliveries in Italy. This decision follows a strategic review of the company’s Prime Air service program. The move ends a pilot effort that had shown technical promise in the country. Italy was once seen as a potential European test bed for the program.

Amazon stated the current business rules do not support its long-term goals. The company confirmed positive engagement with Italian aerospace regulators. However, the "broader business regulatory framework in the country" was the ultimate barrier, Amazon said.

Diverging Explanations

Italy's civil aviation authority, ENAC, called the halt unexpected. In a statement, ENAC suggested the decision was driven by company policy. The authority linked the withdrawal to "recent financial events involving the Group".

Financial Context

Multiple reports suggest the financial events relate to a tax dispute. Amazon recently settled a long-standing tax investigation with Italian authorities. This dispute concerned alleged tax issues between 2019 and 2021. Observers believe this financial context may be part of the "broader business regulatory framework" Amazon cited.

Technical Success and Regulatory Hurdles

The decision comes despite successful early progress on the technical side. Initial delivery-drone tests were completed in San Salvo, a town in the central Abruzzo region. These tests, completed in late 2024, marked progress toward the Prime Air service launch.

Test Location: San Salvo, Abruzzo region.
Aircraft: Amazon's MK30 drone model.
Regulators: ENAC and ENAV authorized the initial trials.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) sets the overarching drone rules. However, local ENAC regulatory constraints and national business laws complicate large-scale rollouts. The gap lies in areas like data governance and commercial operations outside of aviation certification.

Impact on European Drone Logistics

This halt highlights the challenges of scaling commercial drone delivery plans in Europe. While Amazon continues its drone projects in the U.S. and the U.K. is still a target, the Italian market is now open for other local players. The development of automated last-mile delivery options remains a key focus for global logistics. For more commercial aviation news, visit the flying.flights website.