Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is accelerating its push into aerial logistics, planning to deploy drone delivery from 150 additional locations this year in partnership with Alphabet Inc.'s Wing unit. The move catapults access from 2 million to over 40 million U.S. customers by late 2027, according to company announcements. This expansion, detailed in a Wall Street Journal report, builds on pilots in Texas and Georgia, targeting urban centers from coast to coast.
Federal Aviation Administration rules proposed in August 2025 cleared key barriers for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights, enabling operators to scale without constant human oversight. "We want to help customers get what they want, when they want and where they want it," said Greg Cathey, Walmart's senior vice president of digital fulfillment transformation, emphasizing quick trips for one to a few items. Wing's drones, carrying up to 5 pounds over 6 miles, deliver in under 30 minutes via tethered drop-offs.
Regulatory Tailwinds Fuel Rapid Growth
Drone operators previously navigated waivers or spotters, inflating costs versus ground drivers. Robin Riedel, executive vice president for aviation at Metropolis Technologies, noted,...
Source: https://www.webpronews.com/walmarts-drone-surge-40-million-shoppers-in-sight-by-2027/
- Log in to post comments
Link