Amazon plans massive expansion of Prime Air drone deliveries

Amazon is preparing a roughly sixfold expansion of its Prime Air drone delivery network, targeting nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026 as retailers and delivery companies race to make last-mile shipping faster and cheaper.

The rollout would dramatically widen Prime Air’s footprint from 11 current delivery sites across 10 metro areas and give Amazon a larger test of whether autonomous aircraft can become a meaningful part of its logistics network.

Amazon plans to expand next into the Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Syracuse and Boise metropolitan areas, with additional communities expected later this year.

AMAZON’S 30-MINUTE DELIVERY PUSH RAISES STAKES IN RACE FOR SPEED

The push comes as rivals make their own moves into drone delivery. Walmart has expanded service through partners, including Alphabet-owned Wing and Zipline, while DoorDash recently received federal approval to operate its own commercial drone delivery network. Uber this week also announced a partnership with Zipline.

Amazon says Prime Air has already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages this year.

“Customers already turn to Amazon for fast Same- and Next-Day Delivery, and Prime Air provides them an even speedier option when they need it,” Prime Air Vice President David Carbon said.

Prime Air can carry most packages weighing 5 pounds or less and roughly the size of a large shoebox, making more than 60% of the products customers purchase most frequently eligible for drone delivery. Orders can arrive in as little as 30 minutes, though Amazon says most reach customers about an hour after checkout.

AMAZON DISRUPTING ITSELF, REBUILDING CUSTOMER SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AROUND AI FROM GROUND UP

Prime members receive free drone delivery on orders of $50 or more and pay $2.99 on smaller orders, while non-Prime customers pay $4.99.

The expansion adds another front to Amazon’s broader effort to shrink delivery times as retailers increasingly compete over speed and convenience.

Drone delivery, however, remains a small part of the broader delivery market and faces challenges ranging from federal aviation requirements and weather to noise, safety and the economics of competing with traditional vans and drivers.

AMAZON LAUNCHES 1-HOUR AND 3-HOUR DELIVERY OPTIONS WITH NEW TIERED PRICING STRUCTURE FOR CUSTOMERS

Amazon holds Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 certification for Prime Air and says its drones use an autonomous “detect-and-avoid” system to monitor surrounding airspace and identify obstacles without requiring a person to watch a live video feed.

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

For Amazon, the expansion will test whether drone delivery can move from a limited service into a practical, scalable piece of its last-mile network.