The world’s largest online retailer Amazon.com Inc. for the first time will ship its cargo on Airbus SE aircraft in cooperation with Hawaiian Air, owned by Hawaiian Holdings Inc.
In total, Amazon will lease 10 Airbus A330s from Altavair LP, the company said. Aircraft that were originally passenger aircraft will be converted into cargo ones. They will be flown by Hawaiian pilots.
The first deliveries are expected at the end of 2023.
In this way, Amazon intends to reduce its dependence on Boeing Co. airliners, of which there are more than 110 aircraft in its fleet. The company intends to begin replacing its existing Boeings, mainly 767 models, with Airbus aircraft within 1.5 years batches of aircraft from a European manufacturer.
Hawaiian was one of six bidders to win a contract with Amazon, said Sarah Rhoads, vice president of Amazon Global Air. The airline operates 13 Airbus A330 passenger aircraft.
Meanwhile, Amazon chose the A330 because the planes are easier to convert to passenger than Boeing 767s, Rhoads added. At the same time, despite the fact that the A330 is larger than the 767, Amazon will not use them to transport cargo from other companies.
Amazon also transports U.S. packages from time to time. Postal Service on her existing aircraft.
