Amazon says Prime Air will reach nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of 2026.
Why it matters: The expansion is a major step from pilot-scale drone delivery toward broader commercial use. It could speed last-mile logistics and widen same-day delivery options, though the rollout still depends on FAA approvals and local operating limits.
- Amazon said Aug. 19 that Prime Air will expand to nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of 2026.
- The first rollout wave is set for 11 locations, including Tolleson, Arizona; Ruskin, Florida; and Kansas City, Kansas.
- Amazon says Prime Air has already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages by drone this year.
- The service currently operates across seven states: Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas.
Amazon is widening Prime Air well beyond its early test market footprint. In an Aug. 19 report, the company said its drone delivery service will expand to nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of 2026.
The first launches are expected in 11 locations, including Tolleson, Arizona; Ruskin, Florida; Kansas City, Kansas; Papillion, Nebraska; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Hazel Park and Pontiac, Michigan; and Richmond, San Antonio, Richardson and Waco, Texas. Amazon also says additional launches are planned in Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho and New York.
Amazon says Prime Air can deliver packages weighing up to 5 pounds in as fast as 30 minutes. The Associated Press reported the expansion would extend lightweight drone delivery into suburban areas in nearly 500 cities.
The company says Prime Air operates under FAA Part 135 certification and has permission to operate beyond visual line of sight. FAA materials show commercial operations began in August 2020 in Pendleton, Oregon, and a draft environmental assessment was posted in July 2026 for proposed Prime Air commercial operations in the Kansas City area. The FAA’s package delivery drone page tracks the program’s certification history.
In an April 10 shareholder letter, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Prime Air has a design that will scale, with plans to serve communities with 30 million customers by year-end and to deliver half a billion packages by the end of the decade. Amazon
By the numbers
- nearly 500 - U.S. cities Amazon says Prime Air will reach by the end of 2026
- 5 pounds - maximum package weight Amazon says Prime Air can carry
- hundreds of thousands - packages Amazon says it has delivered by drone this year
Yes, but: The expansion still faces FAA oversight and local operating limits, and Amazon has not detailed how quickly the service can scale profitably.
What's next: Amazon says the first launches will start in 11 locations, with more cities in Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho and New York to follow.