Walmart Expands Drone Delivery to Seattle and Denver
Walmart will launch drone delivery services in the Seattle and Denver metro areas in 2027 using Alphabet subsidiary Wing's technology.
Walmart announced it will expand its aerial drone delivery service to the Seattle and Denver metro areas in 2027. The retailer aims to eventually offer the service from more than 270 stores nationwide, adding to its existing operations in Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The service utilizes drones from Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet, which can reach speeds of 60 mph and carry payloads up to 5 pounds. In Washington state, Walmart has filed permit applications for drone storage and fencing at Supercenters in Tacoma and Federal Way. Mayor Jim Ferrell welcomed the expansion, stating that innovation is part of the way of life in Federal Way and the Puget Sound.
This move places Walmart in direct competition with Amazon's Prime Air program. While Amazon operates in 10 metro areas and plans to reach hundreds of cities by 2026, it has not yet submitted projects for the Seattle area.
The Federal Aviation Administration is overseeing the operations to ensure environmental compliance and prevent interference with aircraft flight paths. Simultaneously, the U.S. Government Accountability Office has recommended that the agency establish additional guidelines to manage communication between drones and other aircraft to ensure airspace safety.
