Amazon has expanded its U.S. Prime Air drone delivery service into three more places—San Antonio and Waco in Texas, and Pontiac in Michigan—bringing the total number of Prime Air locations to four, across three states.
Why It Matters
The expansion of Amazon’s Prime Air service to three more locations means that more Amazon Prime customers across the U.S. can get their orders within the advertised 60 minutes. However, last year, when Amazon launched its first drone delivery service in Texas, residents raised concerns over noise and privacy.
What To Know
Amazon Prime Air is now available in San Antonio, Waco, in Texas, according to local outlets, and Pontiac, Michigan, according to The Detroit News—with plans in the works for further expansions into Hazel Park in Michigan, and other cities—alongside existing drone operations at Tolleson in Arizona. Amazon has halted it drone services at College Station, Texas.
In an hour or less, Prime Air drones can deliver packages that weigh up to 5 pounds to locations that are within a 7-to-8-mile radius of an Amazon fulfillment center. Currently, they can only operate during daylight hours, when the weather conditions are favorable. The service will cost Prime Members $4.99 and non-Prime members $9.99.
According to Amazon, to address potential noise issues, the drones in Waco and Pontiac are using a different, more advanced model—the MK30—which, according to Amazon, has features that significantly reduce noise levels. These models can also fly better in light rain and have improved sensors that can better detect and avoid obstacles like pets, washing lines, and property.
What People Are Saying
Stephen Wells, chief project engineer for the Prime Air team, said: “When you watch the [MK30] drone take off and transition for forward flight at transit altitude, it does it seamlessly and disappears into the soundscape. That’s going to be key for having this drone welcomed into backyards as people gain confidence in the technology.”
Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly told KCEN-TV that: “Our drones deliver packages usually within 60 minutes. They deliver smaller items, about 5 lbs. Deliveries will start slowly and will ramp up, but customers can expect rapid delivery of these items.”
What Happens Next
Amazon aims to deliver up to 500 million packages annually by drone by the year 2030.