Taking flight: Amazon announces that its drone delivery service is coming to Arizona in late 2024

Later this year, Amazon customers in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area will be able to receive Prime Air drone deliveries from the company’s Tolleson, AZ same-day delivery site.

In an online post, Amazon says: “Since starting drone delivery in College Station, Texas and Lockeford, California in 2022, we’ve delivered thousands of items to customers in less than an hour.”

“ Last year we also began delivering prescription medications in partnership with Amazon Pharmacy to customers in College Station. We’ve received great feedback from customers and communities as we’ve rolled out the service.”

“We’re now adding a new location and entering into the next stage of the programme’s evolution. Later this year, drone deliveries are coming to the West Valley of the Phoenix Metro Area in Arizona.”

Andy Jassy, President and CEO at Amazon, says: “Our same-day network and Prime Air drones are two innovations helping us deliver even more quickly for customers. So we're excited to bring them together.”

“For the first time, drones will begin delivering orders from our same-day delivery site in the West Valley of the Phoenix Metro area, giving customers access to tens of thousands of items they can get in under an hour.”

Amazon is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local officials in Tolleson to obtain all necessary permissions to conduct these deliveries.

"As Amazon embarks on the national expansion of its Amazon Drone Delivery Programme, we're proud to have their innovative presence in our community. By bringing this service to new communities, they're not just delivering goods; they're delivering opportunities and economic growth for all,” says Juan F. Rodriguez, Mayor of Tolleson.

“Amazon’s commitment to innovation exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our city forward.”

“This kind of delivery is the future, and it’s exciting that it will be starting in the Phoenix Metro Area,” says Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix.

“The shift toward zero-emission package delivery will help us reduce local pollution and further cement our city as a hotbed for the innovative technology of tomorrow.”

Amazon is also closing its delivery site in Lockeford.

It says it will offer all current employees opportunities at other sites, and will continue to serve customers in Lockeford with other delivery methods. And it will continue delivering in College Station, Texas and will open further US locations in 2025.

MK30 drone

The company’s team is currently conducting flight tests for the new MK30 drone.

This includes features that allow it to deliver packages to customers with smaller backyards and in more densely populated suburban areas. The MK30 is quieter and can fly twice as far as Amazon’s current drone.

While the latter flies during clear weather, the new one can operate in more diverse weather conditions, including light rain.

In the aforementioned online post, Amazon said: “We’re flying the new MK30 drone and putting it through its paces at our indoor and outdoor test facilities.”

“We’ll use the data from this process to demonstrate to regulators around the world the reliability of our system. The MK30 drone will make deliveries to customers later this year.”