Walmart has decided to put some of its delivery drones in airplane mode.
The retail giant has elected to cut its drone operations in Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Tampa, Fla. It operated in those geographies with help from its partner, DroneUp.
A spokesperson for Walmart said the company made the decision to cut drone capabilities in those areas to focus more on exploring what drone delivery could look like at scale in a single metro area: Dallas-Fort Worth.
“We are excited about the momentum and positive customer response we’ve experienced around drone delivery. This service will continue to evolve as we learn more about customer preferences and drone capabilities,” the spokesperson said. “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.”
Walmart plans to continue its partnership with DroneUp in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where it has 11 facilities. At present, it does not have plans to shutter other drone delivery centers. It has three with DroneUp in Arkansas, nearby its Bentonville, Ark., headquarters and one in Virginia Beach, Va.