BUSINESS BRIEF

FedEx: Drones won’t usurp deliveries soon

12/19/2013

MINNEAPOLIS — The chief executive officer of FedEx doesn’t see drones taking over the package delivery business soon. Fred Smith said Wednesday FedEx has several drone studies under way.

The idea of delivering items by drone is “almost amusing,” Mr. Smith said. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com, caused a stir when he said Amazon is exploring drone deliveries.

Obstacles to commercial drone deliveries exist: the FAA barred their use; no-fly zones abound, and questions of liability would have to be resolved.