Amazon Prime Air drone delivery to reach nearly 500 US towns and cities

Amazon’s drone delivery service is set for a major expansion over the coming months. By the end of the year, it will reach almost 500 US towns and cities, increasing its coverage area sixfold. In this market, Amazon competes with Wing, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet.

Amazon has offered drone delivery in the United States for several years. Although this transport method has not yet become widespread, the e-commerce giant is preparing to significantly expand its network in the months ahead. In an announcement published this week, Amazon said that Amazon Prime Air will be available in nearly 500 US towns and cities by the end of the year. This rapid rollout will expand the drone delivery service’s operating area by a factor of six.

“The Prime Air drone delivery service currently serves customers in cities across seven states, including Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas, and plans to launch soon in Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho and New York State,” the e-commerce giant also said. Amazon’s drone delivery service is available through the Amazon app in areas where Amazon Prime Air operates.

People use it to receive groceries, cosmetics, medicines and electronic devices, including smartphones and connected accessories. According to Amazon, almost every item weighing 2.3 kg or less that fits inside a shoebox is eligible for drone delivery. This allows Amazon Prime Air to cover more than 60% of the most popular products on the e-commerce platform.

$2.99 for Prime members

Amazon says that drones deliver some customers’ orders just 30 minutes after they are placed. Most orders arrive in around 60 minutes.

In the United States, drone delivery is free for Amazon Prime members when their purchase is worth $50 or more. For purchases below $50, these members pay $2.99 for delivery. Users who are not enrolled in Amazon’s programme must pay $4.99.

Competing with Google

In the drone delivery sector, Amazon competes with Wing, one of Alphabet’s subsidiaries - Alphabet being Google’s parent company - alongside robotaxi specialist Waymo.

Like Amazon, this Alphabet subsidiary is continuing to develop its drone delivery service. “Wing has safely completed more than one million home deliveries, and we continue to grow our footprint through partnerships with Walmart, DoorDash and Papa Johns,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in July when Alphabet presented its quarterly results.

What you need to know

Like drone delivery, flying taxis are also developing in the United States. The government has launched a programme enabling private companies to begin pilot projects testing eVTOL aircraft. Permitted uses during these trials include freight transport as well as flying taxis in urban areas.