Amazon plans to expand Amazon drone delivery to nearly 500 US cities and towns by the end of 2026. The company announced the plan on Wednesday, August 19, as Prime Air targets 1 million deliveries this year. 

The expansion will increase its current reach nearly sixfold and bring faster package delivery to millions of customers. 

Prime Air currently operates from 11 locations across the United States and serves nearby communities. New launches include Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Syracuse, and Boise. 

The service uses autonomous drones to deliver eligible packages weighing up to five pounds. Amazon says some orders can reach customers within 30 minutes. 

Prime Air has already completed hundreds of thousands of drone deliveries this year. Thousands of packages now move through the service each day, strengthening Amazon's push toward its 1 million delivery target.

David Carbon, Amazon Prime Air's vice president, highlighted growing demand for faster fulfillment. “Customers continue to demand faster delivery times,” Carbon told staff in March.

The company received key regulatory approval in 2024 for longer-range drone operations. The approval helped Prime Air move beyond smaller pilot areas around Dallas and Phoenix. Local approvals remain necessary before Amazon can enter many communities. 

Amazon also faces concerns over noise, safety, and privacy as the network grows. Two drones collided with a crane in Arizona, prompting investigations from federal agencies. Another incident involved a drone damaging an internet cable in Texas. 

Competition adds pressure as Wing crossed 1 million commercial deliveries across 20 US markets and Zipline completed 2 million deliveries across four continents.

Amazon's 500-city expansion therefore marks a major test for drone delivery. The company must prove that faster deliveries can scale safely across American communities.

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