Alphabet’s Wing to Expand Walmart Drone Deliveries to 150 Locations
Alphabet’s drone delivery company, Wing, is planning a major expansion of its partnership with Walmart. By the end of 2026, Wing aims to operate from 150 more Walmart stores, bringing fast drone deliveries to new cities like Los Angeles, St. Louis, Miami, and Cincinnati.
Currently active at around 27 Walmart locations, Wing expects to reach 270 sites by 2027, delivering small packages right from store parking lots to customers’ front yards.
How It Works
Wing’s drones are built for speed and convenience. Each one can carry packages weighing up to 5 pounds, fly up to 12 miles round trip, and lower deliveries safely to the ground using a tether and hook system.
These deliveries are launched from Walmart parking lots, making use of existing space and speeding up fulfillment for lightweight everyday items.
FAA Rules Could Impact Expansion
While the plan sounds ambitious, it’s not without hurdles. Wing’s rollout depends heavily on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approving more drone flight areas—especially in dense urban zones.
Wing currently operates under FAA’s Part 135 certification, with permission to fly beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS) in parts of Dallas. Expanding to crowded metro areas like LA and Miami will require more approvals, airspace reviews, and environmental checks. Cities themselves don’t grant these permissions—the FAA controls all U.S. airspace.
A proposed FAA-TSA rule could slow things down further. It would require new safety systems for avoiding non-tracked aircraft and TSA security checks for anyone handling packages, which may include Walmart staff. Wing says this added red tape could delay or block expansion plans.
Opportunities for Retail and Packaging Suppliers
Wing’s drone delivery model is built around small, lightweight orders—typically under 3 pounds. That opens up early opportunities for:
- CPG brands to design compact, drone-friendly packaging
- Packaging companies to create weather-resistant, impact-safe solutions
- Third-party logistics (3PL) providers to pitch ready-to-go drone delivery kits
Businesses that adapt early to Wing’s specs can get a head start on partnerships before drone delivery becomes mainstream.
