Amazon announced it's expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service to reach nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of 2026, a 6x expansion from current operations, according to TechCrunch.
The rollout begins in 11 new markets, including Texas (Richardson, Waco, San Antonio, and Fort Worth), plus Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Michigan. Tolleson, Arizona is among them, the same place where two drones collided with a crane boom last October.
Amazon has faced safety criticism over the years. The company's machines have clipped internet cables, crashed into gardens, and struck apartment buildings. The announcement emphasized a "Detect-and-Avoid system" with onboard cameras and sensors designed to work even in light rain.
David Carbon, VP of Prime Air, said the service has already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages this year. Deliveries arrive in as little as 30 minutes, and Prime members receive it free on orders $50 or more. Orders under $50 cost $2.99 for drone delivery ($4.99 for non-Prime members).
Walmart and Google's Wing are both expanding their drone networks. Walmart and Google recently expanded to seven new markets in June, competing for the largest drone delivery network in the U.S. Amazon's move signals that drone delivery is shifting from speculative technology to operational infrastructure.
Amazon operates under FAA Part 135 certification, the same standard applied to commercial airlines. This regulatory approval gives the sector broader legitimacy. Within five years, drone deliveries could become as routine as same-day shipping. Amazon's timeline suggests the company believes the technology is ready for widespread deployment.
Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho, and New York are also confirmed for launches soon.
