Amazon to expand drone delivery to nearly 500 US cities
Amazon said Wednesday it plans to expand Prime Air drone delivery to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026—a sixfold increase from its current footprint—after vice president David Carbon projected 1 million drone deliveries this year and the company reported hundreds of thousands completed so far. The announcement marks fresh momentum for a program Jeff Bezos first outlined in 2013 but that has faced regulatory delays, technical hurdles, and community pushback.
Key Takeaways
- Prime Air aims to reach nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by end of 2026, up from 11 current sites across seven states.
- Amazon is targeting 1 million drone deliveries in 2026 and says it already makes thousands daily after hundreds of thousands this year.
- New metro launches include Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, Syracuse, and Boise, with each site covering roughly 175 square miles.
- Drones carry items up to 5 pounds within about 7.5 miles; most orders arrive in about 60 minutes, with some in as little as a few minutes.
- Rivals including Alphabet's Wing and Zipline are scaling fast, while noise, privacy, and safety incidents remain community concerns.
Why is Amazon expanding drone delivery now?
Amazon received a critical regulatory greenlight in 2024 for long-range drone deliveries, enabling expansion beyond initial markets near Dallas and Phoenix. Over the past year, Prime Air grew to 11 metro areas, with six more locations coming online soon, according to CNBC.
David Carbon told staff in March that Prime Air has the "highest demand drone delivery service in the industry" and that Amazon has yet to hit diminishing returns on speed. The company is integrating drone operations into robotic sort centers to widen eligible products and testing a "gentle delivery option" using a retractable tether instead of a 13-foot drop.
Where will Prime Air launch next?
Prime Air currently serves suburban areas around Phoenix, Tampa, Kansas City, Omaha, Baton Rouge, Detroit, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Waco. Amazon said it will soon launch in the Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, Syracuse, and Boise metro areas, with more communities to follow later in 2026.
Each Prime Air site serves an area of approximately 175 square miles. Customers in eligible ZIP codes see drone delivery at checkout; Prime members get free ultrafast delivery on orders $50 or more, per Amazon's official announcement.
How does Amazon stack up against rival delivery drones?
The drone delivery race is heating up. Alphabet's Wing crossed 1 million commercial deliveries earlier in 2026 and operates in 20 U.S. markets through partners like Walmart and DoorDash. Walmart recently surpassed 1 million drone deliveries from 66 stores and aims for more than 270 stores by 2027 with Wing and Zipline.
Zipline claims more than 2.7 million deliveries worldwide and partnered with Uber on plans to scale toward 1 million drone deliveries per day by 2029. For broader context on autonomous logistics, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
What limits and risks still surround drone delivery?
Amazon's drones handle nearly all items weighing 5 pounds or less that fit in a large shoebox—roughly 60% of frequently purchased products—but strong winds, heavy rain, snow, and extreme cold can ground flights. Residents in some markets have raised concerns about noise, privacy, and property values.
Amazon faces ongoing FAA and NTSB probes after drones collided with a crane in Tolleson, Arizona, in October 2025 and snapped an internet cable in Waco, Texas, in November 2025. Carbon called the crane incident a "humbling experience" after real-world performance fell short of expectations.