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Amazon Launches Drone Delivery in 10 New Cities as Airspace Regulations Ease

Amazon Prime Air drone delivery service expanded to 10 additional U.S. cities this week, marking the company largest single expansion…

Amazon Launches Drone Delivery in 10 New Cities as Airspace Regulations Ease

Amazon Prime Air drone delivery service expanded to 10 additional U.S. cities this week, marking the company largest single expansion since launching in Lockeford, California two years ago.

The new service areas include suburbs of Phoenix, Dallas, and Atlanta, with Amazon claiming delivery times under 60 minutes for eligible packages under 5 pounds. The company said it has completed over 100,000 drone deliveries to date.

The expansion comes after the FAA approved new BVLOS rules that allow drones to operate farther from their launch points. Amazon MK30 drone can fly up to 12 miles in good weather and carry packages up to 5 pounds.

Competitors including Walmart, Google Wing, and Zipline are all scaling their own delivery drone programs. The U.S. drone delivery market is projected to reach .5 billion by 2030.

Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the increasing number of Amazon drones flying over residential neighborhoods, though Amazon says its drones are designed to be quiet and operate at altitudes that minimize disturbance.

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