Amazon is set to expand its drone delivery program to Phoenix, Arizona, later this year, offering same-day deliveries in the West Valley area. The company will be closing its drone delivery site near Sacramento, California, but all employees will be offered opportunities at other sites. Prime Air, Amazon’s drone delivery program, aims to deliver packages weighing five pounds or less to customers in about 30 minutes. The company first tested drone deliveries in College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California in 2022, with plans to open more U.S. locations in 2025.
The most popular item ordered through Amazon’s drone delivery service is AA batteries, along with beauty and drugstore products. Prime Air was first introduced by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2013, with the goal of delivering products from warehouses to customers’ homes in under 30 minutes. Despite delays in launching the program, Amazon has continued to invest in new drone technology, recently revealing its newest MK30 drone. The MK30 is quieter, can fly further, and can operate in diverse weather conditions, with plans to replace current drones by the end of 2024.
Amazon’s drone delivery program remains small, with just 100 deliveries made across two markets in the previous year, despite initial predictions of 10,000 deliveries by the end of that year. The company is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and local officials to receive the necessary approvals to start drone delivery in Arizona. Customers in the West Valley area of Phoenix can expect same-day deliveries from a delivery site in Tolleson, Arizona, about 13 miles west of the city. With the closure of the California site, Amazon is focusing its drone delivery efforts on expanding to new locations and improving technology.
Amazon’s expansion of its drone delivery program to Phoenix, Arizona, signals the company’s commitment to innovative delivery solutions and meeting customer demand for faster deliveries. With plans to open more U.S. locations in the coming years, Amazon is continuing to invest in drone technology and improving its Prime Air service. Customers in the Phoenix area can look forward to same-day drone deliveries of products weighing five pounds or less, including popular items like AA batteries and beauty products. As Amazon navigates the regulatory landscape and obtains necessary approvals, the company is poised to revolutionize the delivery industry with its drone technology.
