Amazon is dramatically expanding its drone delivery ambitions, with its Prime Air service set to reach nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, the company announced Wednesday. The move represents roughly a sixfold expansion of its current footprint.
Prime Air currently operates from 11 sites across 10 U.S. metropolitan areas, including Phoenix, Tampa, Kansas City, Omaha, Baton Rouge, Detroit, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Waco. Amazon plans to launch the service soon in the Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta and Boise metro areas, with additional communities expected later this year.
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The expansion will bring drone delivery to communities representing tens of millions of customers. Amazon says hundreds of thousands of packages have already been delivered by drone this year.
How Amazon’s drone delivery works
Prime Air is designed to deliver eligible packages directly to customers using autonomous drones. Amazon says millions of products can qualify, including groceries, electronics, cosmetics, medications and household goods.
Most eligible products weigh five pounds or less and must fit inside a large shoebox. Amazon says deliveries can arrive in as little as 30 minutes, although most orders currently arrive in about an hour.
Each Prime Air location typically serves an area of roughly 175 square miles. Customers in eligible areas can select drone delivery at checkout and designate a suitable delivery location.
The service is also becoming more economical for customers. Prime members receive free drone delivery on eligible orders of $50 or more. Orders below that threshold cost $2.99 for Prime members, while non-Prime customers pay $4.99.
Amazon’s bet on autonomous delivery
The expansion marks a major step for Amazon’s long-running Prime Air project, which was first unveiled by founder Jeff Bezos in 2013.
Amazon has been working to overcome regulatory and technological barriers that have limited large-scale commercial drone delivery. Its current MK30 drones use onboard cameras and sensors, along with a Detect-and-Avoid system designed to identify obstacles and navigate safely. Prime Air operates under an FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate.
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The move also puts Amazon deeper into competition with Walmart and Alphabet’s Wing, which are expanding their own U.S. drone delivery networks.
Amazon’s expansion could ultimately reshape last-mile delivery, reducing the need for traditional delivery vehicles for smaller packages while giving customers another option for faster orders. But safety, weather, noise, privacy, regulatory requirements and the cost of drone operations remain important challenges as the technology moves toward wider adoption.