Coming Soon! Amazon launching Prime Air in India; Investing Rs. 400 Crores in its Logistics

After the US and Europe, Amazon has chosen yet another location in Asia to launch its Prime Air and enhance its logistic operations.

Key Takeaways

After launching drone delivery in the US, Amazon is all set to make an impact in the Indian e-commerce market.

People with knowledge of the proposal claimed that Amazon would create its air cargo fleet in India as part of a drive by the multinational e-commerce giant to expand and have more control over logistics operations in one of the largest and fastest-growing countries.

The company will only employ Amazon's recognizable Prime Air to deliver products, and each aircraft will display the well-known light blue "smile" insignia on the aeroplane body. QuikJet, a Bengaluru-based cargo airline that is a joint venture between Cyrus Guzder of supply chain business AFL and Ireland-based ASL Aviation Group, is expected to begin its fleet by the end of this month.

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When will Prime Air launch in India?

Amazon Prime Air is reportedly scheduled to debut by the end of January 2023 and will only transport items for the business, enabling it to establish its overnight delivery network in the rapidly expanding Indian market. 

Who will launch  Prime Air in India?

QuickJet, a joint venture between AFL and the Ireland-based ASL Aviation Group, would run the airline out of Bengaluru.

Dive Insight:

With the addition of two more Boeing 737-800s, Amazon Prime Air will have 6 freighters operating by the end of the year. Around 91 aircraft are currently flown by Prime Air throughout the world. The figures include Boeing 737, 767, and ATR72 aircraft in Amazon’s collection. The ASL group oversees Amazon's cargo activities in Europe. 

According to a report shared online, Amazon has also invested Rs 400 crore in ATS (Amazon Transportation Services) in addition to this investment. This most recent investment was announced on January 6, 2023.

Amazon is the largest selling platform in India with more than 205,884 merchants and it hopes to add another 2 million so that its user base reaches 500 million. ATS expanded its logistics operation in India by including 3rd-party logistics providers such as Delivery, Ecom Express, and Xpressbees.

In just six years, e-commerce giant Amazon has quickly established Amazon Air as a cornerstone of its cargo operations. The airline has swiftly added a large number of aircraft over this time, and its present global network includes more than 110 aircraft. 

Additionally, it has opened facilities in North America and Europe, including hubs at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in the United States.

Planespotters.net data shows that Amazon Prime Air now operates five ATR, thirty Boeing 737, and fifty-six Boeing 767 aircraft. ASL Airlines Ireland, Atlas Air, and Sun Country Airlines are just a few of the cargo airlines that Prime Air frequently sublets to.