Amazon Drone Delivery Will Soon Land in Chicago Suburbs

Operation out of two fulfillment centers will carry items to customers within a 7.5 mile radius in under two hours.

Jack Daleo

Friday, February 13, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Amazon hopes to launch Prime Air drone delivery in the south suburbs of Chicago by late spring or early summer. [Credit: Amazon]

Key Takeaways:

Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service is set to expand into its largest market yet, launching by late spring/early summer in the south Chicago suburbs from two fulfillment centers.
The robust, FAA-certified MK30 drones can carry items up to 5 pounds within a 7.5-mile radius, cruising at 73 mph, with initial deliveries expected in under two hours.
While the expansion is anticipated to create 100 new jobs and receives positive feedback from some residents, others express concerns about noise and privacy.
The service has encountered several incidents in other markets, including collisions and unexpected landings, prompting aviation experts to raise questions about the maturity and safety of drone detect-and-avoid systems.

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Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service will soon expand to its largest market yet.

First reported by Crain’s Chicago Business, the logistics titan is planning to serve customers out of two fulfillment centers in the south Chicago suburbs of Markham and Matteson. Each site will have 12 to 20 drones. The company hopes to launch near the Windy City by late spring or early summer.