I spy robots in the sky: Amazon expands Prime Air drone delivery into Chicago’s suburbs

Amazon plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service into the Chicago suburbs as part of a national rollout that could reach nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026. According to the company’s announcement, the expansion would increase the company’s current reach more than sixfold and place Amazon’s fast-delivery program in direct competition with Walmart and other retailers.

Amazon confirmed eligible customers could receive certain packages in as little as 30 minutes. The drones can carry packages weighing up to 5 pounds, including millions of potential items such as household goods, electronics and other lightweight products.

Subscribe to Chicago Star’s Weekly City Buzz Newsletter

Chicago suburbs among planned launch areas

According to NBC 5 Chicago, the service is expected to focus on suburban communities, where drones can avoid many of the obstacles found around skyscrapers and major airports. Chicago is one of several planned launch areas, alongside Atlanta, Cleveland, Boise and Syracuse, the company said.

Amazon currently operates Prime Air from 11 locations across 10 metropolitan areas, including parts of Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas. The company lists service locations such as Tolleson, Arizona; Ruskin, Florida; Papillion, Nebraska; and communities near Detroit, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

Customers must live in an eligible ZIP code to use the service. Amazon said the drone option appears during shopping and checkout when an address qualifies, and coverage areas may change.

Read more on Chicago Star

• Discover fall foliage in Chicago and beyond with Illinois' annual Fall Colors Trip Planner

• “Project Hail Mary” author Andy Weir snags another $6.8M mansion in Winnetka 

• How the Cornell incident has renewed attention for Greek life and safety at universities

• NVIDIA boosts buyback program by $150 billion in largest increase of its kind in history

• Ready, set, blastoff! SpaceX launches Starship into orbit for the first time

Speed, cost and limits

Drone delivery is free for Prime members placing eligible orders of $50 or more. Prime members pay $2.99 for smaller orders, while nonmembers pay $4.99, according to Amazon.

The service remains a small part of Amazon’s overall delivery network. Drones face limits from their carrying capacity, trees, landscaping, pools, and other potential landing obstacles. Deliveries can also be affected by weather, darkness, noise concerns, and local approval requirements.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has said the company expects Prime Air to serve communities representing about 30 million customers by year’s end, according to NBC 5 Chicago. Amazon also projects that drones could deliver 500 million packages annually by the end of the decade.

The company says its drones use a Detect-and-Avoid system to monitor airspace and make safety decisions. Amazon has Federal Aviation Administration approval and waivers allowing flights beyond a pilot’s direct line of sight, while broader federal rules for such operations remain unfinished.