Amazon announced on Wednesday that it will expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to reach approximately 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of the year, an increase from the 11 locations where it currently operates. The expansion, which requires regulatory approval in each community, will add service in places such as Syracuse, New York, and the area around Cleveland, Ohio. Each delivery hub can cover a radius of about 7.5 miles, allowing a single site to serve multiple municipalities.

Amazon currently offers drone deliveries at a cost of $4.99 per drop‑off, reduced to $2.99 for Prime members, with the fee waived on orders of $50 or more. The company redesigned the MK30 drone in recent years; the current model hovers a few feet above the ground and releases packages. Amazon has obtained Federal Aviation Administration approval to operate the drones in most U.S. airspace.

Local officials have raised concerns about noise, safety and privacy. At a May zoning meeting in Nampa, Idaho, Amazon executive Sam Bailey answered questions about the service’s impact on bird safety and noise levels, which he said last about 20 seconds and are quieter than a lawnmower. The board voted unanimously to approve the rollout. Residents in Richardson, Texas, have voiced irritation over persistent drone noise, while a crane collision in suburban Arizona in October remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Amazon has stated that its cameras are used only for navigation and that privacy concerns are unfounded.

The expansion will require community approvals, often involving local council hearings and resident feedback. Amazon has adjusted flight heights and route patterns to minimize noise over residential areas. While the service is intended for customers such as older adults, families needing quick deliveries and individuals who forget meal ingredients, its broader commercial impact remains to be seen.