Amazon Launches Drone Delivery in Phoenix

After completing its Prime Air drone delivery program in California, Amazon announced it has begun delivering products via drones in Phoenix, Arizona.

Starting today, customers in the western Phoenix metro area can order items from Amazon’s catalog that are eligible for drone delivery, including home, beauty, office, healthcare, and tech products. Items eligible for delivery must weigh no more than five pounds, with around 50,000 products available at launch.

Customers can select a delivery location for the drone before completing their order. Amazon promises that deliveries will arrive within an hour from takeoff in Tolleson.

The company noted that drone deliveries will be available only during daylight hours and under favorable weather conditions. Drones won’t deliver at night or during strong winds or heavy rain. Deliveries will only be available within the range of the warehouse.

Amazon is using its new MK30 drone for deliveries, which was recently approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights. This drone can fly twice as far as its predecessor, is about 50% quieter for the human ear, and is designed to operate in rainy weather.

The company has also started using the MK30 for prescription drug deliveries in College Station, Texas, where it has been testing drone deliveries since 2023.

The drone delivery rollout has faced challenges, including noise complaints, regulatory hurdles, and organizational difficulties. To speed up deployment and reduce costs, Amazon has decided to integrate its drone systems into its existing same-day delivery network rather than building separate facilities.

The company had previously stated that it would begin offering drone delivery services in the UK and Italy by the end of 2024, but no updates have been provided on these plans.