Walmart has announced a major expansion of its drone-based delivery service, adding another 150 stores and extending coverage to more than 40 million people across the United States.
The move strengthens Walmart’s push to compete with rival Amazon, which has been testing its Prime Air drone delivery programme in markets including the United Kingdom, Italy, Texas and California.
The expansion will bring Walmart’s air delivery service to major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, St. Louis, Miami and Cincinnati. The retailer said it will announce additional cities in the coming months as the rollout continues.
The future of retail is landing! 📦🪽We’re expanding our partnership with @Walmart to 150 new stores, bringing drone delivery to 40M+ Americans from LA to Miami. Get your essentials in as little as 30 minutes. ✨
Learn more: https://t.co/7HcbC17tfz#Wing #Walmart #Innovation pic.twitter.com/7EhaVhUgcT
— Wing (@Wing) January 11, 2026Walmart’s drone operations are powered by its aviation partner Wing, a US-based multinational firm. Wing plans to scale the service to 270 Walmart locations by the end of 2027, offering what it describes as “ultra-fast” aerial delivery for everyday items.
Several major companies, including DoorDash, Chipotle and Amazon, have experimented with drone deliveries. However, high operating costs, regulatory hurdles and technical challenges have slowed large-scale adoption.
Despite these obstacles, drone delivery has gained traction due to lower labour requirements, faster delivery times and reduced energy use for lightweight packages. Still, a recent McKinsey report highlighted the cost gap. According to the study, drone delivery averages about $13.50 per package, compared with roughly $1.90 for traditional van deliveries.
Recent policy updates from the Federal Aviation Administration have helped accelerate adoption. The FAA now allows drones to operate beyond the pilot’s line of sight under specific conditions, making it easier for large retailers to expand aerial delivery networks.
With regulatory support growing and consumer demand for faster delivery rising, Walmart’s expanded drone service marks another step toward reshaping last-mile logistics in the US retail sector.
