Amazon Plans Drone Delivery in 500 U.S. Cities by End of 2026

Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service is set for a major expansion, with the company announcing plans to bring the technology to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026. The ambitious rollout, which represents a sixfold increase from its current footprint, comes as the service faces scrutiny following a viral video of a delivery mishap in Texas.

Vice President of Prime Air, David Carbon, stated that the company has already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages by drone in 2026. "By the end of 2026 we plan to reach customers in nearly 500 cities and towns," Carbon said. The service promises delivery in as little as 30 minutes for items including groceries, medications, electronics, and cosmetics, with packages up to five pounds.

Prime Air currently operates across 11 metropolitan areas in seven states, including Phoenix, Arizona; Houston and Dallas, Texas; and Kansas City, Kansas. New metro areas slated to come online soon include Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Syracuse, and Boise. Amazon plans to make drone delivery available to approximately 30 million people in the U.S. by year's end.

The expansion announcement coincided with a high-profile incident on...