Amazon plans to expand Prime Air to nearly 500 cities by the end of 2026

Prime Air uses drones to deliver groceries, electronics, cosmetics, medications, and household products. | Source: Amazon

Amazon.com Inc. this week said it plans to expand its Prime Air service to nearly 500 cities and towns in the U.S. by the end of 2026. The company said this is a sixfold increase from its current footprint. It would give tens of millions of customers access to drone delivery.

Prime Air drone delivery currently serves customers in cities across seven states, including Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. Amazon plans to launch the service soon in the Chicago; Syracuse, N.Y.; Cleveland; Atlanta; and Boise, Idaho, metro areas, with more communities to come later 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, with deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes,” stated David Carbon, vice president of Amazon Prime Air. “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. We’re pairing the convenience of ultrafast drone delivery with the low prices and selection customers love about Amazon.”

Amazon isn’t just expanding Prime Air across the U.S. The company recently launched Prime Air in Darlington, U.K., marking the first time the drone delivery service has been available to its customers outside the U.S. Customers within a 7.5-mi. (12-km) radius of the fulfillment center can have eligible items delivered by drone.

Amazon said Prime Air can deliver nearly all items 5 lb. (2.2 kg) or less that fit in a large shoebox. More than 60% of the items customers are most frequently purchasing from Amazon are eligible, the company claimed. Orders arrive in as fast as 30 minutes, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout.

Drone delivery is integrated into the existing Amazon shopping experience. Users can use the same app, same checkout, and same customer service. When placing their first delivery order, customers will be able to see and confirm their delivery point. They can choose to keep the same point for future orders or select a new area at any time.

Once the drone arrives at the preferred delivery point with a customer’s order, it will check to confirm that no people, pets, or vehicles are in the way before safely delivering the package (although Amazon may need to add pools to the list).

Prime Air holds Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) Part 135 certification, the same framework used for commercial air carriers, representing the highest level of FAA oversight for drone delivery operations. Amazon said multiple independent systems keep its drones operating safely and predictably through flights.