Amazon buys 11 jets for 1st time to ship orders faster
Amazon announced a purchase of 11 Boeing 767-300 aircraft, marking the first time the tech giant has bought, rather than leased planes for its cargo fleet.
The additional 11 Boeing 767-300 planes would “support Amazon’s growing customer base”, it said.
Amazon’s first air operation launched in 2016, but previous planes have been leased.
Experts say buying its own aircraft will allow Amazon become a credible competitor in logistics.
“It is significant that Amazon has purchased the aircraft, as opposed to leasing carriers, as it should lead to lower overall lifetime costs, greater control over the speed, reliability and quality of service, and accelerate its aim of cementing the brand as a genuine player in the competitive world of air freight,” said Michelle Mooney, a reporter at Logistics Manager.
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos – estimated to be the richest man in the world – is “using logistics as a secret weapon”, said Gonzalo de la Mata, of specialist Amazon consultancy Molzi.
Amazon said the 11 planes, all of which are Boeing 767-300s, will be converted to hold cargo instead of passengers. The four jets that it is buying from WestJet will join Amazon’s fleet this year, and the seven from Delta will be ready by next year. The purchases will bring its total fleet to 85 planes by 2022.
Amazon.com Inc. declined to say how much it is paying for the planes.
