Hyderabad: Amazon on Monday launched an air cargo service, Amazon Air, in India with the goal of expanding and speeding up deliveries. India is one of the key markets of the MNC and fast-growing e-commerce hubs in the world.
Amazon has already launched air cargo services in the US and Europe. Since 2016, it has built a network of over 100 jets across 70 locations in the world.
Sarah Rhoads, vice president of Amazon Global Air, told Reuters the company has invested in Indian cargo carrier Quikjet to exclusively transport packages across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. "This will give Amazon tighter control over costs and flight schedules while reducing delivery times across a wider range of products." She did not reveal the size of the investment.
Quikjet is a Bengaluru-based freight carrier and a unit of Europe's ASL Aviation. ASL operates several aircraft for Amazon in Europe.
"When we use a dedicated network, we have more transparency with the cost. We control the negotiations and we drive the schedule to make sure we are making the most efficient use of the assets. We want to deliver the majority of shipments in two days or less and Amazon Air enables that," said the executive.