Amazon unveils express drone delivery from Arizona fulfillment center
The future of unmanned delivery services is closer than it may seem — and it’s right in one of Arizona’s backyards.
Tolleson, a small city about 11 miles west of Phoenix, will serve as the third home base for Amazon’s experimental drone project, the delivery service powerhouse announced in a news release on Monday.
"When you're a small town in the middle of an urban landscape surrounded by major buildings and major cities, it's always cool when you can be the partner on something so grand," Tolleson Mayor Juan Rodriguez said.
Arizona is no stranger to drone delivery, between Walmart and companies like FlyBy Robotics, but here's what you need to know about Amazon's program.
When is Amazon beginning drone delivery in Arizona?
No specific date or month has been set for the drone delivery to launch, according to the news release. However, Amazon noted that drone deliveries will start in the West Valley in Tolleson.
Amazon is still coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration and Tolleson officials to ensure everything is in place for the program to commence.
Where will drone deliveries come from?
Amazon has already established several same-day delivery sites across the Valley, and the drones will be situated near Tolleson’s site during the experimental period.
“These smaller sites are hybrid — part fulfillment center, part delivery station,” Amazon’s news release noted. “They allow us to fulfill, sort, and deliver products all from one site so we can get packages out to our customers even quicker.”
Where in metro Phoenix can I receive Amazon drone deliveries?
Once the program is clear to start, it will only operate within a 7-mile radius of the distribution center, Mayor Rodriguez told The Arizona Republic. Some west Phoenix and Avondale residents will be able to receive drone deliveries.
Which cities have Amazon drone delivery?
Amazon first implemented this program in College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California, in 2022. The Lockeford location will be closing, the news release said, promising more drone delivery locales in 2025. The College Station site will remain open.
What time of day will drone deliveries be available?
Amazon uses drone delivery from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday in California, and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week in College Station, Texas, Amazon said on its website. However, drone delivery isn't available during certain weather conditions.
