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 expanding to the south Chicago suburbs of Markham and Matteson, marking its largest market launch yet, with operations expected to begin by late spring or early summer.
The service will use robust MK30 drones, capable of carrying items up to 5 pounds within a 7.5-mile radius from dedicated Drone Delivery Centers, aiming for delivery times of one to two hours.
This expansion is projected to create about 100 new jobs, with Amazon planning community meetings to introduce the service and address local concerns.
Despite Amazon's commitment to safety and continuous improvement, the Prime Air service has experienced several incidents in other operational areas, leading to mixed public feelings regarding drone safety and potential disruptions.

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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.