Amazon Air takes flight in India
Amazon continues to expand its dedicated air cargo fleet across the globe.
The e-commerce giant has launched Amazon Air in India, one of its key overseas markets. India is also the first country in Asia that Amazon has launched the service and the third worldwide, after the United States and Europe.
Amazon Air in India will utilize the cargo capacity of two Boeing 737-800 aircrafts operated by Quikjet Cargo Airlines. Each aircraft will ship thousands of packages every day and fly across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, the company said.
Amazon India currently operates fulfilment centers across 15 states, providing 43 million cubic feet of storage space for seller inventory. It has sortation centers across 19 states, with a processing area of nearly 2.3 million square feet.
Amazon launched Amazon Air in 2016 in the U.S. in a move to lessen its reliance on UPS, FedEx, the US Postal Service and other outside companies. The company has been steadily expanding its delivery capacity and now operates an air cargo network that has grown to include more than 110 aircrafts across 70 destinations worldwide. Amazon has also launched a number of new Amazon Air facilities, including a U.S. hub in Hebron, Kentucky and a European air hub at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany.
“We’re thrilled to launch Amazon Air in India to ensure we can provide our growing customer base with great selection, low prices, and faster deliveries,” said Sarah Rhoads, VP, Amazon Global Air. “This announcement reaffirms Amazon’s commitment to invest in India’s logistical infrastructure, create more jobs in the local economy, and introduce newer capabilities to power our delivery network.”
Amazon Air will support 1.1 million sellers in India, enabling growth for ancillary businesses such as transportation and packaging.
“This marks a very important step for our sellers and our customers, as well as a huge step forward for the aviation industry,” said Akhil Saxena, VP – customer fulfilment (APAC, MENA & LATAM) and WW Customer Service, Amazon. “We are celebrating a significant milestone in our global mission to transform the future of logistics.
Saxena added: “Amazon Air comes to India at an important time. Over the last few years, we have taken many positive steps to build our fulfilment, transportation, and logistics infrastructure in the country.”