What can Prime Air deliver and how long does it take?

Prime Air can deliver nearly all items 5 lb. or less that fit in a large shoebox; more than 60% of Amazon's most frequently purchased items are eligible. Orders arrive in as fast as 30 minutes, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout.

How does Amazon ensure its drones are safe?

Prime Air holds FAA Part 135 certification, the highest level of FAA oversight for drone delivery operations. The service uses a Detect-and-Avoid system to continuously monitor airspace and environment, allowing drones to independently see obstacles and make real-time decisions in flight. Onboard cameras and sensors support navigation and obstacle detection.

Where can I use Prime Air right now?

Prime Air currently serves customers in cities across seven states: Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. Amazon also recently launched the service in Darlington, U.K., its first location outside the U.S., for customers within a 7.5-mi. radius of the fulfillment center.

RoboticsThe Robot ReportAug 21, 2026Aug 21, 2026, 10:00 JST

Amazon expands Prime Air to nearly 500 U.S. cities by end of 2026

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3 Key Points

What happened
Amazon said this week it will expand Prime Air drone delivery to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026—a sixfold increase from its current footprint across seven states (Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas). The company plans to launch soon in Chicago; Syracuse, N.Y.; Cleveland; Atlanta; and Boise, Idaho, with more communities to follow later this year.
Why it matters
Prime Air delivers items 5 lb. or less in as fast as 30 minutes, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout. More than 60% of Amazon's most frequently purchased items are eligible. The service holds FAA Part 135 certification—the highest level of FAA oversight for drone delivery—and uses a Detect-and-Avoid system to operate safely. Amazon has already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages by drone this year.
What to watch
Amazon recently launched Prime Air in Darlington, U.K., its first international location outside the U.S. Customers within a 7.5-mi. radius of that fulfillment center can receive eligible items by drone. The expansion to nearly 500 cities would give tens of millions of U.S. customers access to the service by end of 2026.

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Context & Analysis

Amazon's expansion of Prime Air to nearly 500 cities by end of 2026 represents a sixfold increase in the company's current drone delivery footprint, which today covers only seven U.S. states. This aggressive timeline signals Amazon's confidence in the service's operational and regulatory standing: Prime Air holds FAA Part 135 certification, the same framework applied to commercial air carriers, placing it at the highest level of FAA oversight for drone operations. The company has already validated the model at scale, delivering hundreds of thousands of packages by drone this year, and has begun international expansion with the recent launch in Darlington, U.K. The announcement of imminent launches in five major metro areas—Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Boise—indicates that Amazon is moving methodically through high-population centers before reaching the nearly 500 cities it has announced as its 2026 target.

FAQ

What can Prime Air deliver and how long does it take?: Prime Air can deliver nearly all items 5 lb. or less that fit in a large shoebox; more than 60% of Amazon's most frequently purchased items are eligible. Orders arrive in as fast as 30 minutes, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout.
How does Amazon ensure its drones are safe?: Prime Air holds FAA Part 135 certification, the highest level of FAA oversight for drone delivery operations. The service uses a Detect-and-Avoid system to continuously monitor airspace and environment, allowing drones to independently see obstacles and make real-time decisions in flight. Onboard cameras and sensors support navigation and obstacle detection.
Where can I use Prime Air right now?: Prime Air currently serves customers in cities across seven states: Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. Amazon also recently launched the service in Darlington, U.K., its first location outside the U.S., for customers within a 7.5-mi. radius of the fulfillment center.

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