Walmart has started drone deliveries in Orlando, Florida, using technology from Google’s sister company Wing.

Central Florida residents can now choose from thousands of daily essentials at Walmart, including sunscreen, school supplies, electronics and last-minute ingredients delivered directly by Wing drones in as fast as 30 minutes.

“We measure success in minutes saved and life made a little easier in central Florida,” said Heather Rivera, Wing’s chief business officer. “Whether it’s helping a family grab a quick lunch without loading everyone into the car, or delivering sunscreen to a visitor at their vacation rental, we want drone delivery to be a simple, seamless part of daily routines.”

Wing is now delivering to more than 50,000 homes, businesses,and apartment buildings from two Walmart shops in Florida. Three more stores are expected to be added in the coming weeks.

Orlando’s diverse, growing population makes it a suitable first market for Wing in Florida. Residents often face long drives for simple errands. By moving packages to the sky, Wing’s drones bypass traffic, saving busy households time.

“At Walmart, we’re always looking for new ways to give customers more choice and flexibility,” said Greg Cathey, senior vice president at Walmart (www.walmart.com). “Working with Wing allows us to bring Orlando customers a wide assortment of everyday items through one of the fastest and most innovative delivery options available.”

Orlando is a popular vacation destination. Introducing drone delivery lets domestic and international tourists v experience fast delivery firsthand. Visitors can now restock on vacation essentials before spending the day enjoying the area’s attractions.

Wing and Walmart are building their drone delivery service area in a big way this year. Following launches in Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth, the companies are continuing to expand to reach nearly 20 US metros coast-to-coast. These service areas will include other major hubs such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami and Philadelphia.

Wing’s drones cruise at 45 to 60 metres and up to 100km/h. Once they reach a property, the drone lowers to about six metres and, using a secure tether, lowers the package gently to the ground.

Shoppers using the Walmart app will see drone delivery as an option if the address associated with their account is within the delivery range. For more information, visit wing.com/walmart.

Wing drones in Florida transport up to 1.2kg per flight currently, with plans to increase to 2.25kg, delivering orders in minutes.

Wing is a subsidiary of Google (www.google.com) parent company Alphabet (abc.xyz).