Need that Walmart order in a hurry? Just look to the skies.

Walmart is bringing its high-speed drone delivery service to Tampa, offering customers delivery in 30 minutes or less for thousands of products—from eggs and ice cream to baby formula and COVID tests.

The retailer’s expansion includes four other major metro areas: Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Houston. Tampa residents within a six-mile radius of select Walmart locations will be eligible for the service.

The drones, operated by Wing Aviation, fly at speeds around 40 mph and altitudes of 200 to 400 feet. Each delivery takes roughly 25 minutes round-trip. Once at the delivery site, the drone lowers the order by tether, gently placing it on the ground before returning to the store.

“This is real drone delivery at scale,” said Wing CEO Adam Woodworth. “People all around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have made drone delivery part of their normal shopping habits over the past year. Now we’re excited to bring this ultra-fast experience to millions more.”

Customers can order through the free Wing app, while Walmart members can access an expanded product selection through the Walmart app or website. Nonmembers can still use the service but will pay a delivery fee.

Operating hours for the drone deliveries will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting.

Walmart has already completed over 150,000 drone deliveries since 2021 through pilot programs in places like Dallas-Fort Worth and Bentonville, Arkansas, home to its corporate headquarters.

Now, with operations spanning five states—Florida, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas—Walmart becomes the first retailer to scale drone delivery across such a wide area.

The company expects the service to operate at 100 stores nationwide this year and aims to retrofit an additional 300 locations by 2028 if demand continues to grow.

“Walmart is once again demonstrating its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance our delivery offerings with a focus on speed,” said Greg Cathey, Walmart’s senior vice president of U.S. transformation and innovation.

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(Image credit: Walmart/DroneUp Photo)

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