Amazon has mucked around with the idea of delivery via drone for years now. Following setbacks, the time has come for the online retailer’s aerial ambitions to expand. By which we mean that Amazon’s Prime Air service is expanding to more cities… in the States. South Africa’s not ready for this yet.
The company’s announcement that Prime Air is heading to more American cities — almost 500, by the end of 2026 — could signal that drone deliveries are here to stay. Weather permitting. The online retailer calls it “a sixfold increase from its current footprint.”
Skies over the Amazon
Previously, drone-delivered parcels were being dispatched in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. By year-end, the company aims to have expanded to Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho, and New York. Prime Air vice president David Carbon said, “We’ve already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages to customers by drone this year, and by the end of 2026 we plan to reach customers in nearly 500 cities and towns.”
There’s still plenty of ground to cover before drone delivery is ubiquitous. Amazon’s current footprint doesn’t cover much of the States at all. Even its planned expansion won’t rope in much more of the American landmass. And then there’s the size of the deliveries themselves.
According to the company, “Nearly all items 5 pounds or less that fit in a large shoebox can be delivered by drone, meaning more than 60% of the items customers are most frequently purchasing from Amazon are eligible.” In other words, if a 2.3kg item can fit in the box, buyers have a shot at getting it delivered in 30 to 60 minutes.
There are also noise considerations, the potential for drone malfunctions, and possible thefts to consider. It’s long been a concept that criminals could simply… blow delivery drones out of the sky. If there’s a brand new iPhone in the box and not just six boxes of Band-Aid plasters, it could be worth the shotgun cartridge.
It’s not like Amazon is alone in its ambitions. Drone maker DJI has grand plans for its drones, including, eventually, delivery functions. Its test bed for the moment is the Himalayas, which has its own risks. But at least nobody is likely to drop a large package of coffee mugs onto children in a school playground.
