Amazon Air to grow to 70 aircraft by 2021

Shortly after FedEx announced it would not be renewing its express delivery contract with e-tail giant Amazon, Amazon signed an order for 15 additional narrowbody 737 freighters via lessor GECAS at the Paris Air Show today.

“These new aircraft create additional capacity for Amazon Air, building on the investment in our Prime Free One-Day program,” said Dave Clark, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations at Amazon. “By 2021, Amazon Air will have a portfolio of 70 aircraft flying in our dedicated air network.”

Since launching its Amazon Air operations in 2016, Amazon has invested heavily in its growing air cargo network in the United States. Only this year, Amazon moved to introduce its cargo operations at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) and is also scheduled to open new air facilities at Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), Wilmington Air Park (ILN) and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) later this year.

Meanwhile, last month Amazon also broke ground at the site of its main hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), which is scheduled to open in its first phase during 2021. Around 2026 or later, that hub’s capacity is slated to grow to include parking positions for 100 aircraft, indicating that Amazon Air’s fleet will likely continue to grow past 70 freighters in the years ahead. Such growth will be necessary to support Amazon’s ambitious one-day delivery targets, as partners like FedEx step back from Amazon operations.