New cities added to the flight map
Amazon plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 cities and towns across the United States, the company said. The new list includes metro areas such as Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Syracuse and Boise. Customers would order small, light items through the usual app and receive them by air within a short window.
The company has tested drones in a smaller set of markets for several years. It says the next phase will add more routes and more types of goods, while keeping weight and size limits.
Regulators and neighbours weigh in
Wider service depends on approvals from aviation regulators for beyond-line-of-sight flights. Amazon says it is working with officials to show that its aircraft can detect and avoid other traffic.
Some residents near test sites have asked about noise and privacy. Amazon says its drones fly at heights where they are hard to hear, and that cameras are used for navigation rather than recording. Local councils say they want clear rules before flights begin over homes.
What it means for delivery networks
The expansion fits a wider push to move some parcels off roads and into the air, easing pressure on vans and sorting centres during peak periods. Amazon says the programme will add jobs in operations, maintenance and support.
Analysts say drones will handle only a small share of total parcels for now, because they suit short trips and light loads. Even so, the scale of the plan signals that air delivery is moving from trial to routine business for the company.
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