Amazon plans drone delivery to nearly 500 US cities by year-end

Suburban Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Boise among new service areas

Amazon announced Thursday a plan to expand its drone delivery service to nearly 500 U.S. cities by year’s end, bringing smaller, lightweight package shipping to millions more people in suburban communities, The Associated Press reported. The expansion would scale Amazon’s drone operation more than sixfold nationwide into hundreds of new communities, AP reported.

Under the plan, customers could receive drone deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes, Amazon said in a news release. The drones can carry packages up to 5 pounds.

The new service areas would center on suburban communities, with the drones flying primarily in suburbs well away from skyscrapers and major airports that could cause problems, AP reported. Suburban parts of the Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Boise metro areas are among the hundreds of new communities slated for service under the plan.

The plan will intensify the delivery-speed competition between Amazon and Walmart, AP reported. Both companies rely on a mix of drones and drivers to deliver everything consumers have ordered.