Amazon Wins FAA Approval to Deliver Packages by Drone

By Joseph Pisani

Getting an Amazon package delivered from the sky is closer to becoming a reality.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it had granted Amazon approval to deliver packages by drones.

Amazon said that the approval is an "important step," but added that it is still testing and flying the drones. It did not say when it expected drones to make deliveries to shoppers.

The online shopping giant has been working on drone delivery for years, but it has been slowed by regulatory hurdles. Back in December 2013, Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos said in a TV interview that drones would be flying to customer's homes within five years.

Last year, Amazon unveiled self-piloting drones that are fully electric, can carry 5 pounds of goods, and are designed to deliver items in 30 minutes by dropping them in a backyard. At the time, an Amazon executive said deliveries to shoppers would be happening "within months," but more than 14 months have passed since then.

Seattle-based Amazon is the third drone delivery service to win flight approval, the FAA said. Delivery company UPS and a company owned by search giant Google won approval last year.

More In Business

The Best Fashions These Days Are — Surprise! —Sustainable as Well

Fast fashion may be becoming a thing of the past as consumers are increasingly turning toward more sustainable fashion choices — and brands listening.

Summer 2024: AAA Forecasts 44M Travelers, Solo Trips, AI, and Taylor Swift

AAA predicts a surge in summer 2024 travel, with 44 million travelers, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Expect more solo trips, AI use, and Taylor Swift.

Impossible Wants Meat Eaters to Add Plant-Based Burgers to Their BBQ

As Americans prepare for a long weekend of grilling, Impossible Foods wants to put aside the culture wars, win over meat eaters – and IPO when it's 'ready.'

Nvidia Earnings Shatter Expectations: ‘It’s Not a Chip Stock Anymore’

Nvidia is almost a ‘monopoly’ when it comes to A.I. – but after proving growth in its other businesses, it’s not just a chip stock anymore.

Chill Out, Boomers: Young Consumers Really Have Faced a Tough Economy

Younger consumers are maxing out their credit as they deal with a tough economy, a Bankrate analyst explains.

As Grocery Prices Surge, Thrive Market Emerges as Affordable Solution

In April, grocery prices rose by 1.2 percent, reaching pre-pandemic levels of food inflation. Could an e-commerce grocer be the solution? Thrive Market says yes

Debating Whether to Buy Nike Stock? One Analyst Says Just Do It

Americans spend billions on athleisure every year, and these underperforming brands have room to grow.

When You Buy That New PC, Microsoft Wants it to be Powered by A.I.

Microsoft hopes that the millions of people who haven’t bought new computers since 2020 will help turn the company into a leader in the A.I. space.

A Date Is Set! What Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Teased About The 2025 Grammy Awards

The Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., sat down with Cheddar to discuss what to expect on Sunday, February 2nd 2025 at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

Get Comfortable: The U.S. Economy Is Heading for a Soft Landing

Parsing through the latest news might make it feel impossible to tell how the U.S. economy is doing. This analyst's take? We're in the best case scenario.

Load More