ROME, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Amazon ( AMZN ) said on Thursday

it had successfully completed an initial test of using delivery

drones in Italy, the first European country where the e-commerce

giant plans to introduce the service.

The test was carried out on Wednesday in San Salvo, a town

in the central Abruzzo region.

"The company continues to work with Italian authorities to

meet all the requirements needed to launch the service next

year," Amazon ( AMZN ) said.

The company had previously said it hoped to start using

drones in Italy and in Britain in late 2024.

In August, Britain's aviation regulator said it had selected

six projects, including one by Amazon ( AMZN ), to test the use of drones

in deliveries, inspection of infrastructure and emergency

services.

So-called Prime Air drone package deliveries, first launched

in December 2022, are currently operational in a couple of U.S.

locations in Texas and Arizona, and are due to be gradually

expanded, a company spokesperson told Reuters.

"Amazon ( AMZN ) delivery drones flew for the first time in Italian

skies on December 4, 2024. The test flight was made with the new

MK-30 drone, the highly automated drone system that uses the

industry-leading Amazon ( AMZN ) computer vision program," its statement

said on the test in Italy.

"This allows drones to move safely away from obstacles,

ensuring the safety of people, animals and property, and helping

to keep Amazon ( AMZN ) drones separate from other aircraft in the

operational area."