Amazon Prime Air, the company's drone delivery service, announced a major expansion that will bring ultrafast delivery to nearly 500 US cities and towns by the end of 2026. This represents a sixfold increase from its current footprint, reaching communities with tens of millions of customers across the country.

Prime Air offers millions of items including groceries, electronics, cosmetics, medications, and household products at everyday low prices, delivered in as fast as 30 minutes. The service is currently available in select locations including Tolleson, Arizona; Ruskin, Florida; Kansas City, Kansas; Papillion, Nebraska; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Hazel Park and Pontiac, Michigan; Richmond and San Antonio, Texas; Richardson, Texas; and Waco, Texas.

Drone delivery is set to launch next in Chicago, Illinois; Syracuse, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; and Boise, Idaho metro areas, with more communities planned for later this year. Prime members receive free drone delivery on orders of $50 or more, while orders under $50 incur a $2.99 fee. Non-Prime members can access the service for $4.99 per delivery.

The expansion marks a significant milestone for Amazon's efforts to scale its drone delivery capabilities nationwide, though availability remains limited to specific metro areas at this time.