Amazon Aircraft Fleet Expansion Threatens FedEx, UPS

Amazon has announced it is expanding its partnership with Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) and will lease an additional 10 aircraft from the company.

Launched in 2016, Amazon Air initially leased 40 Boeing 767 freighter aircraft, with 20 from ATSG. The 10 additional cargo planes will be operated on Amazon’s behalf by an ATSG airline, and will join the air cargo operation over the next two years.

“Our customers love massive selection and fast delivery, and the Amazon Air capacity we are building enables Prime delivery speeds for customers from Seattle, Washington to Miami, Florida,” said Dave Clark, senior vice president of worldwide operations at Amazon, in a press release. “By expanding the Amazon Air network through our partnership with ATSG, we’re able to ensure we have the capacity to quickly and efficiently deliver packages to customers for years to come.”

“We’re pleased to expand and extend our partnership in support of Amazon’s exceptional ability to provide reliable and fast delivery to its customers,” added Joe Hete, president and CEO of ATSG. “As the world’s leading source of customer-dedicated 767 cargo aircraft, we have the access to aircraft and are uniquely qualified to support Amazon for many years to come.”

In addition, Amazon will open a Regional Air Hub next year at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, while the Air Hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will open in 2021. Amazon also recently announced an operation to launch in Wilmington, Ohio in 2019, as well as an expanded operation in Rockford, Illinois.

And the eCommerce giant isn’t just focusing on delivery by air. In September, the company ordered 20,000 Mercedes Benz vans to expand its delivery fleet. The vans will also be used for small businesses to carry an excess supply of packages. Amazon won’t own any of the trucks, but would rather give them to fleet management companies that purchase the vehicles and lease them to small delivery companies.