Amazon Air has initiated its “first in-service flight” with the inaugural A330-300P2F (passenger to freighter) aircraft out of the 10 it has leased for operation by Hawaiian Airlines.
In a press statement on October 2, Amazon announced that its Amazon Air Hub teams have begun training on these new aircraft, marking the commencement of the first in-service flight. These A330s are both the newest and largest additions to Amazon Air’s fleet, enhancing the company’s ability to transport a greater volume of customer packages with each flight.
The freighters have been provided by lessor Altavair and are undergoing conversion by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between ST Engineering and Airbus.
Amazon’s partnership with Altavair and Hawaiian Airlines was first disclosed in October last year. Hawaiian Airlines confirmed the receipt of the first of the 10 freighters in July, with plans to commence operations in October.
The agreement with Hawaiian spans eight years, with options for extensions. Despite fleet expansion, Amazon has recently made operational adjustments, including the closure of its Leipzig/Halle Airport airfreight facility in Germany by year-end and a reduction in European flights, reflecting challenging market conditions in the air cargo industry.
