Walmart drone delivery is rapidly becoming a reality.  In partnership with drone technology and services provider DroneUp Walmart drone delivery is launching three full-time DroneUp airport “Hubs.”

“The first operation has already taken flight at a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Farmington, Arkansas,” says a DroneUp press release.

The “hubs” will operate from 8:00 a.m. ­– 8:00 p.m., seven days per week, providing delivery to eligible Walmart customers in as little as 30 minutes.

“When we invested in DroneUp earlier this year, we envisioned a drone delivery operation that could be quickly executed and replicated across multiple stores,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president of last-mile at Walmart U.S. “Opening our first hub within months of our initial concept showcases DroneUp’s ability to safely execute drone delivery operations with speed. We’re already hearing great customer feedback at our first site in Farmington, Arkansas, and look forward to opening additional locations.”

Drone delivery is fast, safe, and can handle even fragile items.  Retail drone delivery has the power to shift public perception about the drone industry, as more communities have the opportunity to experience drones in a beneficial way.  For eligible Walmart customers in Farmington, AR, DroneUp Walmart drone delivery is available right now – at droneupdelivery.com. The additional locations at Walmart Neighborhood Market #5837 in Rogers, AR and Walmart Supercenter #100 in Bentonville, AR, are expected to open in the coming months.

“Teaming up with Walmart to launch three delivery Hubs marks a significant leap forward in the broader use of UAS to provide last-mile consumer delivery services and supply chain efficiency options,” said Tom Walker, CEO, DroneUp. “Walmart and DroneUp provide an unrivaled ability to pick, pack, and deliver via drones directly from the store to consumers offering efficiencies no other retailer can match. We are proud of our team’s ability to deliver the technology helping Walmart launch a new era of commercial drone operations.”

Walmart is well-positioned to be the drone delivery leader as it already has significant infrastructure in place to serve the public – more than 4,700 stores stocked with 120,000 of the most purchased items, located within 10 miles of over 90 percent of the U.S. population. Similarly, DroneUp’s airport “Hubs” house convenient on-site operations where FAA certified flight engineers can conduct multiple and simultaneous deliveries.

In the race to establish retail drone delivery – and to help frame what safe, consistent and fast drone delivery services look like – Walmart has taken a few big steps.  Last week, global drone delivery company Zipline announced a trial at Walmart’s Pea Ridge, AR location.  Read more about Walmart’s delivery trials, investment in DroneUp, and project with Coca-Cola.