Wing and Walmart’s Historic Drone Delivery Expansion Takes Flight
Alphabet-owned Wing and Walmart announced a major expansion of their drone delivery partnership, bringing ultra-fast delivery services to 150 additional Walmart stores across the United States over the next year. The announcement marks a significant milestone in making autonomous drone delivery a mainstream retail option.
Scaling to a National Service
The expansion will grow Wing’s drone delivery network to more than 270 Walmart locations by 2027, stretching from Los Angeles to Miami. This aggressive scaling is intended to bring drone delivery convenience to approximately 40 million Americans, representing roughly 10-12% of the U.S. population.
The rollout builds on existing successful operations in Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, with Houston launching on January 15, 2026. Additional major metropolitan areas slated to receive the service include Los Angeles, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Miami, with more locations to be announced.
Strong Customer Adoption Signals Growth
The expansion is fueled by encouraging adoption metrics. Wing’s top 25% of customers are ordering from the service three times per week, indicating strong demand for the convenience factor. Customers frequently order grocery essentials like eggs, ground beef, fresh produce, and prepared foods such as hot lattes.
How Wing’s Drone Delivery Works
The process is straightforward for customers. Users select items through the Wing app, confirm their delivery location in their yard, and receive orders in as little as 30 minutes. Wing’s drones can travel at nearly 60 mph and gently lower packages via tether, handling delicate items like eggs and hot beverages.
The Path to Profitability
Currently, Wing offers free drone delivery to customers as it builds market adoption. Heather Rivera, Wing’s Chief Business Officer, explained that the company is addressing “forgotten items”—the immediate, last-minute needs that make drone delivery compelling. She indicated that delivery fees will eventually align with other delivery services once the service is fully established.
A Strategic Partnership Success
Wing and Walmart’s partnership launched in August 2023 with just two pilot stores in the Dallas area. The rapid expansion from 2 to 20 stores in Dallas-Fort Worth, then to the current multi-state rollout, demonstrates the commercial viability of drone logistics at scale.
The companies had to overcome significant technical challenges, including ensuring drones could navigate residential backyards and deliver fragile items without damage. Today, those innovations support seamless operations that make drone delivery a reliable alternative to traditional delivery methods.