Amazon Drone Delivery Expansion Is Planned Across About 500 US Locales

Amazon is preparing for a major expansion of its Prime Air drone delivery service, with the company planning to make the service available across about 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026. The move would represent a significant increase from the 11 locations where Amazon currently operates drone deliveries, serving several nearby communities from each location.

The expansion marks a major step forward for a program first presented more than a decade ago. In 2013, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos unveiled the concept of using unmanned drones, which he described as octocopters, to deliver packages directly to customers. At the time, Bezos predicted that the service could become available within four to five years. The rollout, however, has taken considerably longer.

Amazon currently operates its drone delivery service from 11 locations, including Papillion, Nebraska, and Ruskin, Florida. The company is also preparing to launch the service in Syracuse, New York, and in an area near Cleveland, among other communities. From a single delivery hub, drones can serve several towns located within approximately a 7.5-mile radius. With the planned expansion, Amazon expects its overall coverage to reach roughly 500 locales.

The company has redesigned its Prime Air drones several times since the program was introduced. Earlier versions were designed to land before releasing packages, while the latest model, known as the MK30, uses a different approach. The drone hovers several feet above the ground and releases the package before departing.

Customers are charged $4.99 for a drone delivery under the current pricing structure. Amazon Prime members receive a $2 discount, bringing the charge to $2.99. The delivery fee is waived for orders valued at $50 or more.

The expansion was announced after Reuters contacted Amazon on Tuesday about the status of its drone delivery program. While Amazon has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate drones in most areas of the United States, additional approval is generally required from individual communities before the service can begin.

Local authorization can involve planning meetings, council hearings and opportunities for residents to raise concerns. Issues such as noise, safety, logistics and the potential effect on wildlife have emerged during discussions over the technology.

In Nampa, Idaho, for example, Amazon executive Sam Bailey faced about an hour of questions from a planning and zoning board in May. Residents raised concerns involving noise, safety and drone operations, while some also expressed worries about the impact on birds. Despite the objections, the board unanimously approved the company’s rollout.

Bailey said the drones would typically be audible for around 20 seconds as they descend and then leave the area. According to him, their noise level is lower than that of a lawnmower. He characterized the disruption as brief and compared the experience with having a delivery truck arrive on a residential street.

Amazon has also highlighted potential benefits for certain customers. Bailey said drone deliveries could be particularly useful for older adults, parents dealing with children who suddenly develop a fever, and people who discover they are missing an ingredient while preparing a meal at home.

Noise remains a concern for some residents, however. Videos of successful deliveries shared on social media suggest that the drones can produce a sound comparable to a leaf blower, although the noise does not continue for as long. Amazon has also sought to address privacy concerns by saying that cameras installed on its drones are used only for navigation.

Safety incidents have also occurred. In October, two Amazon delivery drones collided with a crane in suburban Arizona. It remains under an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

During a March hearing in Richardson, Texas, one resident complained about the noise created by drones flying overhead, saying it had become a source of irritation and disrupted the peacefulness of the area.

Amazon has made adjustments in response to community concerns. Bailey said the company had altered the average height at which its drones fly and modified routes so that the aircraft pass over commercial areas more consistently.

Despite continued concerns, some local officials appear to view the technology as unavoidable. One council member said the focus should be on finding ways to accommodate the new technology and making adjustments as it develops.

With the planned expansion, Amazon is seeking to move drone delivery from a limited service into a much broader part of its U.S. delivery network.