Amazon has announced the purchase of its first planes as it plans to expand its already growing air freight network.
This is the first time that Amazon has bought its own planes rather than leasing aircrafts for its cargo fleets.
The purchase includes 11 Boeing 767-300 aircraft according to the press statement released by the company.
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“The purchases include seven aircraft from Delta and four aircraft from WestJet, which will join the network by 2022.” the press statement reads.
The decision comes at a time when people are relying on fast, free shipping more than ever due to the coronavirus 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 Rhoades, vice-president of Amazon Global Air, in the press statement.
“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 in meeting our customer promises.” she added.
These fleet additions will ensure added capacity in Amazon Air’s network for years to come. However, the company will rely on third-party carriers to operate the new aircrafts.
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