Cherry Hill residents could have Amazon packages dropping from the sky by mid-October.
Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service is expected to launch from a West Deptford fulfillment center at 240 Mantua Grove Road, with a roughly 15-mile delivery radius covering parts of Gloucester and Camden counties, according to information Mantua Township officials shared after a Zoom meeting with Amazon representatives. NJBIZ reported on Aug. 24 that the zone extends into Camden County, reaching Bellmawr, Runnemede and surrounding communities. Cherry Hill sits approximately 10 to 12 miles from the facility, potentially placing it within the delivery radius, though Amazon has not confirmed specific communities beyond those named.
And local officials can't stop it.
"Please understand that whether you are for, or against deliveries of this kind by drones, we have no say over this matter," Mantua Township Mayor Bob Zimmerman said on the township's Facebook page on Aug. 21. The Federal Aviation Administration controls airspace, not municipalities, meaning Cherry Hill Township has no regulatory authority over whether drones fly overhead.
Mantua Township Police Chief William Murphy shared details from a Zoom meeting he and other regional police chiefs held with Amazon representatives. According to Murphy's Aug. 21 Instagram post, Amazon told officials the drones will operate only during daylight hours, from 15 minutes before sunrise to 15 minutes after sunset, at altitudes below 400 feet.
What can be delivered
Nearly all items weighing 5 pounds or less that fit in a large shoebox qualify for drone delivery. Amazon says that covers more than 60% of the products customers most frequently buy, including groceries, electronics, cosmetics and medications. Deliveries can arrive in as little as 30 minutes, though most take closer to an hour.
What it costs
Prime members get free drone delivery on orders of $50 or more. Orders under $50 cost Prime members $2.99. Non-Prime customers pay $4.99 per delivery. For customers in eligible areas, drone delivery will appear as an option at checkout.
Part of a national push
The South Jersey launch is part of Amazon's plan to expand Prime Air to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, a sixfold increase from its current footprint of 11 facilities across seven states, according to an Aug. 19 Amazon press release. Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta and Boise are also expecting launches later this year.
Amazon has not officially announced South Jersey as part of the rollout, but the company is actively hiring for Prime Air positions at the West Deptford site, including ground handler, flight monitor, operations manager and safety and compliance officer, 42Freeway reported.
An Amazon spokesperson told NJBIZ on Aug. 24 that the company is working with local officials and exploring opportunities to expand its drone delivery service.
Customers can check whether their address is eligible at amazon.com/dronedelivery once the service goes live.
