SEATTLE, Wash. — Walmart says it plans to bring drone delivery service to the Seattle area in 2027 through a partnership with Wing, offering customers the ability to receive eligible orders in 30 minutes or less.
The retail giant announced the expansion as part of its growing drone delivery program. Wing said customers will be able to order products weighing up to 5 pounds for delivery by drone.
“We’re offering this service for free for a limited time, so you can test it out and see if you like it,” Emily Bergstrom with Walmart said.
The announcement comes as drone deliveries have drawn attention for occasional mishaps. Earlier this year, an Amazon Prime Air drone in Texas dropped a package into a swimming pool during a delivery.
Wing spokesperson Jessie Poole-Strang said the company’s drones use onboard sensors and technology designed to avoid obstacles at delivery sites.
“If there is a new obstacle, say a pool or landscaping, and it can’t simply nudge over, it will fly back,” Poole-Strang said.
Poole-Strang said their drones are built to operate in a variety of weather conditions, including rain and during Seattle winters with long stretches of darkness.
“For darker conditions, we do have the approval from the FAA to fly after sunset,” Poole-Strang said.
Once Walmart identifies which Western Washington stores will offer the service, Wing plans to set up drone operation hubs in store parking lots.
“You’ll see the drone operations set up in the parking lot of a Walmart store, and if you’re a customer within six miles of that store, you’ll be able to see the drone delivery service on Walmart.com,” Bergstrom said.
Wing says the timeline for the Seattle-area launch will depend in part on how long it takes to secure permits for drone hubs in individual cities.
Customers interested in the service can join a waitlist to be the first to find out when it’s available.