Walmart has shut down its drone delivery services in three states to focus on servicing Dallas.
Walmart and drone delivery service DroneUp began a partnership in late 2022, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Since the beginning of the partnership, DroneUp has opened delivery hubs at Walmarts across the country. However, the company is now opting to close 18 Walmart delivery hubs in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Tampa to focus on operations in Dallas.
DroneUp will service 11 Walmart locations in Dallas, 3 in Arkansas, and one in Virginia Beach.
“We are excited about the momentum and positive customer response we’ve experienced around drone delivery,” said Walmart to Axios.
“Our drone delivery program is still a pilot and by focusing our efforts in Dallas-Fort Worth, we can learn more about the potential to scale this innovative delivery option for Walmart’s customers.”
Early this year, Walmart announced its plan to expand its drone delivery service to include 75% of households in Dallas-Fort Worth, making Dallas America’s drone delivery capital.
In late June, some Fort Worth residents began receiving their Walmart purchases by drone.
Soon after, new commercial drone delivery service regulations were implemented in Dallas, according to The Dallas Express. For the first time, the Federal Aviation Administration approved multiple operators to fly commercial drones in the same Dallas airspace without someone there to observe them.
The authorization will allow drones to deliver packages to doorsteps around Dallas. The drones will use an Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) technology to assist with “traffic management” in the airspace not covered by FAA air traffic services.
Drone service allows companies to deliver products quickly, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes after the order is placed.
DroneUp has an advanced drone service that travels up to 60 mph, has a 30-mile range, and includes a claw-like grabber to lift packages up to 10 pounds.
The company has unveiled drone “ecosystems” with climate-controlled storage lockers where drones can pick up and drop off packages, as well as recharge in between deliveries.
