Amazon Expands Prime Air Drone Service to 500 Cities

Amazon.com Inc. is expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, a sixfold increase from its current footprint. The expansion targets suburban areas in metro regions including Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Boise, and Syracuse. Using the FAA-approved MK30 drone, the company can deliver packages weighing up to five pounds in as little as 30 minutes. Prime members receive free delivery on eligible orders over $50, while smaller Prime orders cost $2.99 and non-member deliveries cost $4.99.

The company aims to complete 1 million deliveries this year and expects to serve 30 million customers by year-end. Long-term goals include delivering half a billion packages by the end of the decade. To improve versatility, Amazon is integrating drone operations into robotic sort centers and testing a retractable tether for fragile goods.

Despite this growth, the program faces significant regulatory and safety challenges. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating a collision with a crane in Tolleson, Arizona, and an incident where a drone snapped an internet cable in Waco, Texas. Additionally, the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch is probing a crash in Darlington, England, where Amazon recently opened its first international drone hub. These developments intensify competition with Walmart Inc., which is partnering with Alphabet Inc.'s Wing to expand its own drone network to 270 locations by 2027.