Skyports

Skyports Drone Services
IndustryDrone delivery
GenreDelivery drone
Founded2018
FounderDuncan Walker & Simon Morrish
Headquarters
London
,
England
Area served
Ireland, Scotland, United States, Singapore
Websiteskyportsdroneservices.com

Skyports Drone Services is a British provider and operator of eVTOL drones for cargo delivery, survey and monitoring.[1] The company became famous for using drones to carry Covid-19 samples and test kits in some parts of Argyll and Bute which has been described as a UK first.[2] It also received UK Government funding for establishing service and training facility at Argyll and Bute Council-owned Oban Airport.[3]

The company was founded in 2018 by Duncan Walker & Simon Morrish.[4] It is headquartered in London with additional offices located in Singapore, Dubai, Columbia and Japan.[5]

In 2020 Skyports Drone Services was authorised by the Scottish government to carry Covid-19 kits from Mull, Clachan-Seil and Lochgilphead to Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban.[6] It was jointly funded by the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency.[7]

The Royal Mail partnered with it to launch a postal service using drones in Scotland.[8] In 2023, they announced a Hub Operator Program for participants in Colombia, UAE, the UK, Kenya, and Korea.[9]

  1. ^ Alcock, Charles. "Drone Flight Trials in Cornwall Could Build a Template for a Nationwide UK Network". FutureFlight.
  2. ^ "Covid in Scotland: Drones to carry Covid samples". BBC News. 23 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Council welcomes funding lift off for Oban drones project". Argyll and Bute Council. www.argyll-bute.gov.uk. 27 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Progressing toward eVTOL flight demonstrations at 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games". Vertical magazine.
  5. ^ "Air taxi startup Skyports opens Japan office ahead of 2025 launch". UK Tech News. 17 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Drone deliveries soar in rural Scotland during coronavirus outbreak". The Guardian.
  7. ^ "Drones base proposed for Oban Airport". bbc.com.
  8. ^ Crumley, Bruce (12 May 2022). "UK's Royal Mail to deliver post by drone on 50 new routes". DroneDJ.
  9. ^ "Skyports Drone Services Announces Major Hiring Initiative for Global Expansion". UASweekly.com. 16 January 2023.