From 11 sites to nearly 500 communities
Amazon announced a major expansion of its drone delivery programme, with plans to reach nearly 500 cities and towns by the end of 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported. Prime Air currently operates from 11 sites in 10 US metro areas, including Phoenix, Tampa, Kansas City, Baton Rouge, Detroit, Omaha, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Waco.
The next markets are Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta and Boise, with more communities to follow. Amazon recently opened Prime Air in Darlington, England, the first time the service has been offered to customers outside the United States. Customers within a 7.5-mile radius of a fulfilment centre can order eligible items.
What the drones carry
The aircraft carry packages weighing up to five pounds (2.25 kilograms), which Amazon says covers more than 60 per cent of its best-selling items, including groceries, medicines and small electronics. The company promises delivery in as little as 30 minutes, though most orders take closer to an hour.
"We've already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages to customers by drone this year, and by the end of 2026 we plan to reach customers in nearly 500 cities and towns," said David Carbon, vice president of Amazon Prime Air.
Approvals, noise and privacy
Prime members pay nothing for drone delivery on orders of $50 or more, and $2.99 on smaller orders. Rolling out at that scale still depends on local permits, and the service has drawn questions about noise, privacy and safety after reported drone incidents.
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