Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, is planning to expand into India with its air cargo business. A new Amazon Prime Air service could begin operations in the south Asian nation as soon as this month, according to recent reports.
In a short time, India will receive Amazon Prime Air.
By the end of January, the launch of Amazon Prime Air is anticipated. In order to serve the expanding Indian market, the upcoming Indian airline startup will exclusively transport packages for Amazon and establish its own overnight delivery network.
India would become the first market outside of Europe and the United States where Amazon operates dedicated air cargo flights if it launches. Amazon Air, whose first aircraft, “Amazon One,” took to the skies in 2016, has experienced an incredible journey.
QuikJet, a cargo airline based in Bengaluru, will run the new airline. Since its inception in 2007, QuikJet has operated a fleet of two Boeing 737-800(BCF) aircraft that are on average 22.3 years old.
Amazon Prime Air India would begin flying QuikJet’s two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. By the end of this year, the number of freighters is expected to reach six. As a freighter airline option, the Boeing 737-800BCF is rapidly gaining global acclaim. The maximum takeoff weight of this aircraft is 174,200 pounds, or 79,000 kilograms. It is a more adaptable option than the Boeing 737-300SF and has a design range of 3,700 kilometers (1,995 nautical miles). The aircraft can carry 24 tons of cargo.
32 airlines worldwide operate 102 Boeing 737-800BCFs, according to Ch-aviation data. This model is most widely used by ASL Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and Atlas Air around the world. There are 11, 12, and 8 B737-800BCFs in each.
The fleet of Amazon Prime Air.
In just six years, Amazon Air has quickly established itself as an essential component of Amazon’s cargo operations. The airline quickly added a lot of planes during this time, and it now has more than 110 planes in its global network. It has also opened facilities in Europe and North America, including hubs at the Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in the United States.
Five ATRs, 30 Boeing 737s, and 56 Boeing 767s are currently flying for Amazon Prime Air. They are frequently subleased to Atlas Air, Sun Country Airlines, and ASL Airlines Ireland, all of which are cargo airlines.
Amazon Global Air Vice President Sarah Rhoads made the announcement in October of last year that the company would be adding ten Airbus A330-300s that were leased from the aircraft lessor Altavair. These aircraft, which were undergoing a passenger-to-cargo conversion, are anticipated to join Amazon’s network toward the end of 2023. At the same time, some older aircraft will be phased out by Amazon Prime Air. Hawaiian Airlines, Amazon’s newest partner, will manage this fleet, the company announced.
