Orkney, an archipelago in Scotland, has become the first location in the UK to have its mail delivered by drone on a permanent basis. The service, launched by Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services, aims to improve delivery times and safety for the remote island communities.

The Orkney I-Port operation uses electric drones to transport letters and parcels from Royal Mail’s Kirkwall delivery office to Stromness, where they are then flown over to Graemsay and Hoy. The drones can carry payloads of up to 6kg and have a range of up to 16km. They are also equipped with parachutes for emergency landing.

The service is expected to significantly reduce the delays and disruptions caused by the weather and geography of Orkney, which can affect the ferry schedule that normally carries some mail between the islands. The drones can fly in weather conditions that exceed the upper limits of the ferry, ensuring an uninterrupted delivery service.

The service also brings benefits for the health and safety of postal workers, who can deliver between ports and marinas without risk. Moreover, the use of electric drones supports Royal Mail’s drive to reduce emissions associated with its operations.

Chris Paxton, head of drone trials at Royal Mail, said: “We are proud to be working with Skyports to deliver via drone to some of the most remote communities that we serve in the UK. Using a fully electric drone supports Royal Mail’s continued drive to reduce emissions associated with our operations, whilst connecting the island communities we deliver to.”

Alex Brown, director of Skyports Drone Services, said: “By leveraging drone technology, we are revolutionising mail services in remote communities, providing more efficient and timely delivery, and helping to reduce the requirement for emissions-producing vehicles. We’re pleased to once again be partnering with Royal Mail to demonstrate how drone operations can benefit UK logistics on this project.”

The Orkney I-Port project is the first UK drone delivery project that can be conducted on a permanent basis under existing regulatory frameworks, making it possible to extend beyond the initial three-month period. This is due to the proximity of the take-off and landing locations and the ability for flights to be conducted using extended visual line of sight.

The project follows a previous collaboration between Royal Mail and Skyports in 2020, when they used drones to transport vital medical equipment and samples via drone in Argyll and Bute during the Covid-19 pandemic.