Amazon plans to launch drone package deliveries in Portland next year
Amazon aims to start its Prime Air drone delivery service in Portland early next year, with a proposed hub at its North Portland fulfillment center.
Amazon announced plans to roll out its Prime Air drone delivery system to Portland by early next year, adding the city to a network that will eventually cover almost 500 locations across the United States. The service, which promises deliveries within about thirty minutes, is already active in ten metropolitan areas, including Phoenix, San Antonio, Detroit and Tampa. A new drone hub is slated for construction at Amazon's fulfillment center in North Portland, and city officials are scheduled to meet with the company this month to review the proposal.
While the drones have not yet taken flight, members of the Piedmont Neighborhood Association in North and Northeast Portland have begun raising issues related to safety, noise pollution, and potential impacts on local retailers. The rollout reflects Amazon's broader strategy to accelerate its rapid-delivery capabilities using autonomous aerial vehicles.
