Amazon expands drone delivery to third U.S. city

Amazon customers in Italy, the U.K., and an additional U.S. city will soon have the option to get their packages delivered by a drone beginning in late 2024. The Prime Air drone delivery system is expanding to international locations, and adding a third city in the U.S. by the end of next year— specific cities in the U.S. and abroad will be named in the coming months. The new locations add to Amazon's existing drone delivery operations in the U.S., where it has been using drones to safely deliver packages weighing up to five pounds in one hour or less, for almost a year.

In addition to the new delivery sites, Prime Air is unveiling the new MK30 drone design, which is quieter, smaller, and lighter than previous models. Drone deliveries will be integrating into Amazon’s delivery network, meaning drones will deploy from some same-day delivery sites. In Italy and the U.K., Amazon will start integrating into some of its fulfillment centers, which will provide Amazon customers with faster delivery of an even greater selection of items. Amazon will start with one site in each location and expand over time.