SUMMARYAmazon plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, adding major metro areas including Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Boise. The service has already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages this year and currently operates in 11 U.S. locations, with each site covering about 175 square miles. Amazon says the drones can deliver packages weighing up to 5 pounds and include a Detect-and-Avoid system.
Amazon says its Prime Air drone delivery service will expand sixfold to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, including metro areas around Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Boise. According to Amazon Prime Air vice president David Carbon, the service has already delivered "hundreds of thousands of packages to customers" this year, typically within about an hour. The Verge reports: These will join 11 locations across the US where Amazon already offers drone deliveries, with each Prime Air site serving an area of approximately 175 square miles. The service aims to quickly deliver packages of up to 5 pounds or less [...]. Amazon reiterated its drone safety features alongside these expansion plans, including Prime Air's "industry-leading Detect-and-Avoid system." That's likely an attempt to minimize any concerns raised by the communities where the service is expanding, given these drones have already been scrutinized for crashing into cranes, internet cables, gardens, and an apartment building.