IONA Drones could tackle final mile delivery costs for rural Scotland

• 26 September 2022
• Transport / Logistics Services

A Scottish MSP is working with IONA Drones to look at using drone delivery to manage high delivery costs for parcels to the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Residents of remoter areas of the British Isles are often hit with very high delivery charges for having parcels sent to them. This is due to the modes of transport involved and that economies of scale frequently can’t be achieved by the delivery companies as just 1-2 packages may end up being sent to a remote island in one batch for example.

MSP Richard Lochhead has called the plans ambitious as they have the potential to tackle many of the problems in sending parcels to the likes of Moray in Scotland.

IONA delivery Drones would take on the final mile leg of delivery to customers and thereby tackle the costs incurred by the delivery companies in taking the parcel to the customer.

Mr Lochhead said: “It was good to meet with the team at IONA and hear first-hand their proposals to provide clear and affordable parcel delivery rates for all customers by utilising drones.

“Due to continued inaction from the UK government, customers and businesses are being hit with eye-watering charges for deliveries every day.

“It is innovative solutions like this that will help end unfair parcel delivery charges

“The plans put forward by IONA are ambitious and could revolutionise the way deliveries are carried out in rural areas by showcasing a new-tech solution to this problem.

“I’m keen to work with IONA and other stakeholders to look at a trial of this system here in Moray.”

Scottish Parliament data suggests that Scottish rural customers pay around £45 million in delivery fees annually, far and away above the amount that most others do in the UK.