Royal Mail and Skysports have extended trials of a drone delivery service in Orkney until at least February 2026.
The extension, announced as the project reaches its one-year anniversary, will integrate key learnings and improvements from the first stage of operations while focusing on new enabling technologies for the next stage.
The Orkney I-Port project is the first UK commercial drone delivery service to be implemented on a regular basis under existing regulatory frameworks and provides a daily inter-island mail distribution service between Stromness on Orkney’s Mainland and the islands of Graemsay and Hoy.
The venture enables Royal Mail to meet its Universal Service Obligation and shows how drones can support critical public services.
In the first year of operation, Skyports’ fully electric Speedbird drones have run 517 flights, operating in all weather conditions and covering a total distance of over 840 miles; the distance as the crow flies from London to Rome.
The work, carried out in partnership with Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority and Loganair, has significantly improved service levels for rural communities, shortening Royal Mail delivery times by up to 24 hours and improving their efficiency and reliability.
Royal Mail’s local postal workers have acted as visual observers for the flights and Loganair has supported pilot transport to and from Orkney.
The extension is being funded by Connectivity for Remote Orkney Future Transport (CROFT), a UK Space Agency funded project announced by Skyports during Farnborough International Airshow.
Key improvements over the project include hardware and software upgrades. Skyports and drone manufacturer Speedbird have made significant updates to the drone technology in the past 12 months to enhance operational reliability and enable flights in higher winds and more adverse weather, in preparation for flying in the winter months.
The next phase of work will explore how 5G can support drone operations in harsh rural environments and provide key learnings for other future projects.
Chris Paxton, USO programme manager, Royal Mail, said: “Royal Mail is always exploring innovative ways to continue to meet our Universal Service Obligation to deliver to the UK’s 32 million addresses. Through our successful trial with Skyports, we are making our deliveries to remote communities quicker, more reliable and more environmentally friendly. We’d like to thank our Orkney posties for helping with this trial and upskilling themselves in the process.”
Alex Brown, director, Skyports Drone Services, added: “Our Orkney flights with Royal Mail demonstrate the viability of long-term drone operations and highlight the role that new aviation technologies can play in supporting essential public services.”
