Amazon is planning a major expansion of Prime Air, its drone delivery service. The goal is to reach close to 500 US cities and towns by the end of 2026, about six times as many as today.

What customers get

Drones can bring food, electronics, beauty products, medicines and household items, usually within around 30 minutes and at the same prices as regular Amazon orders.

Where it operates

Prime Air already flies in parts of seven states: Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas. Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho and New York are next. Each drone site covers an area of roughly 450 square kilometers.

Amazon says its drone sites now handle the highest average delivery volumes of any in the US, with thousands of drops every day.

The company's view

David Carbon, vice president of Prime Air, said customers already rely on Amazon for same-day and next-day delivery, and drones add an even faster option when something is needed within half an hour. He noted that Amazon has delivered hundreds of thousands of packages by drone this year.

First step abroad

Prime Air has also launched in Darlington, England, its first service for customers outside the US. It covers about 12 kilometers around the local distribution center.

Why it matters

Ultra-fast delivery is raising expectations for e-commerce everywhere. Sellers and importers supplying online marketplaces should expect continued pressure to keep stock closer to end customers and shorten fulfillment times.