New Amazon Drone Delivery Service Revealed In GA: 5 Things To Know

ATLANTA, GA — Amazon Prime Air is planning to launch a new drone delivery service in almost 500 towns this year, including in Atlanta, the company announced Wednesday.

The service is currently offered in 11 cities, and now, drone delivery will be available in five more U.S. towns.

“Customers already turn to Amazon for fast same- and next-day delivery, and Prime Air provides them an even speedier option when they need it, with deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes,” David Carbon, vice president of Amazon Prime Air, said in a news release.

“We've already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages to customers by drone this year, and by the end of 2026, we plan to reach customers in nearly 500 cities and towns. We're pairing the convenience of ultrafast drone delivery with the low prices and selection customers love about Amazon.”

Amazon Prime Air's target goal for the year is a sixfold uptick from what is currently offered, according to the company.

A launch date for the drones in Georgia was not publicly released.

Where Will Drone Delivery Be Offered?

Drone delivery is already available in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Nebraska, Nebraska, Louisiana, Michigan and Texas.

Amazon Prime Air will also provide this service in the metros of Atlanta; Chicago, Illinois; Syracuse, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; and Boise, Idaho.

The popular business is planning to expand to more communities later in the year.

Is Amazon Prime Drone Delivery Safe?

Amazon Prime Air says, "yes."

The company is certified through the Federal Aviation Administration, and its drones employ a detect-and-avoid system that monitors the airspace around the device, according to the release.

"It’s similar to a trained pilot who scans the surrounding airspace, and it allows the drones to independently see and make real-time decisions while in flight. Prime Air drones use onboard cameras and sensors for navigation, obstacle detection and safe delivery; they do not track individuals or record movements. There is no live camera feed monitored by any person. The onboard camera data is processed by the drone itself for safe navigation," the company said in the release.

The drones, which have zero exhaust emissions, are able to fly in light rain and a variety of temperatures, according to Amazon Prime Air.

What Can Be Delivered By Drone?

Items must weigh 5 pounds or less and be able to fit inside a large shoebox to be delivered by drone, "meaning more than 60 percent of the items customers are most frequently purchasing from Amazon are eligible," the company said.

Amazon Prime Air customers will be able to receive groceries, electronics, cosmetics, medications and household products through the service.

Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy cellphones, Apple AirTags, Apple AirPods, Ring doorbells and Alpha Grillers instant read food thermometers are among products that can be delivered by drone, the company said.

Customers can receive their orders from 30 minutes to an hour after checkout.

How Much Does The Service Cost?

Drone delivery is free for members who already pay for Amazon Prime as long as the order costs at least $50. Members who spend less than $50 on orders will need to pay an extra $2.99 for delivery.

The price tag is $4.99 for drone delivery customers who do not have an Amazon Prime membership.

How Do I Use Drone Delivery?

Drone delivery service is built into Amazon's mobile app and checkout process, according to the company.

To see if their area is eligible for the service, customers can visit Amazon's website. They can also use the site to check items allowed for drone delivery.

Drone delivery will be confirmed when the customer places their first order utilizing the service. The customer will then be able to change or keep their delivery locations for future orders, according to Amazon Prime Air.

After arriving at the customer's preferred location, drones will deliver packages after ensuring there are no people, pets or vehicles in the drop-off zone, the company said.

Amazon Prime Air says it intends to reach tens of millions of customers by the end of the year.