Amazon says it will serve nearly 500 U.S. cities with Prime Air deliveries by the end of the year.
Amazon is planning a major expansion of its Prime Air service in the United States in the coming months. The company aims to serve nearly 500 cities with drone deliveries by the end of the year, which would represent a six-fold increase from current levels.
Currently, Prime Air operates in 10 metropolitan areas from 11 locations, each covering 175 square miles. It operates in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Tampa, Kansas City, Omaha (Nebraska), Baton Rouge (Louisiana), Detroit, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Waco (Texas).
Amazon plans to soon expand its service to the Chicago and Atlanta metro areas, as well as the Syracuse, New York, areas; Cleveland, Ohio; and Boise, Idaho. It aims to expand to more areas later this year.
The company says its drones can deliver almost any item weighing five pounds or less that can fit in a large shoebox via drone. Most orders are fulfilled within 60 minutes, according to Amazon, and some arrive in as little as half an hour. Prime members get free drone delivery on orders costing $50 or more. For cheaper orders, there is a $3 fee for drone delivery. If you’re not a Prime member and need a replacement phone or something to be delivered quickly via an Amazon drone, you’ll pay a $5 fee.
