In a first, Amazon has purchased Boeing 767-300 wide-body airliners, in this case from Delta Air Lines and WestJet Airlines. The 11 aircraft will join Amazon Air’s fleet this year and next, the eCommerce king said in a press release on Tuesday (Jan. 5).
The purchase comes “at a time when customers are relying on fast, free shipping more than ever,” the company said. “Amazon Air plays a central role in delivering for customers by transporting items across longer distances in shorter timeframes.”
The new jets “will ensure added capacity in Amazon Air’s network for years to come. Amazon will continue to rely on third-party carriers to operate these new aircraft.”
Amazon reported a record holiday shopping season that saw more than 1.5 billion toys, electronics and household goods delivered amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our goal is to continue delivering for customers across the U.S. in the way that they expect from Amazon, and purchasing our own aircraft is a natural next step toward that goal,” said Sarah Rhoads, vice president of Amazon Global Air.
Four aircraft purchased from WestJet are being converted from carrying passengers to cargo for use this year. The Delta planes will join them next year.
The release added that “since Amazon Air’s launch in 2016, Amazon has invested hundreds of millions of dollars and created thousands of new jobs at Amazon Air locations across the U.S.” The company also set up its first international air hub, at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany.
In the U.S., Amazon has regional air operations based in such places as John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
“Having a mix of both leased and owned aircraft in our growing fleet allows us to better manage our operations, which, in turn, helps us to keep pace with meeting our customer promises,” said Rhoads.
According to Amazon, among its most popular goods purchased over the holiday season were the iRobot Roomba 675, Lite-Brite Ultimate Classic Retro Toy, Just Dance 2021 and the Nintendo Switch Standard Edition.
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