Amazon Air Flies by Proxy: Over 100 Aircraft, Zero Direct Operations

Amazon Air has over 100 aircraft flying its packages, but it doesn't operate any of them. Instead, the e-commerce giant contracts certified airlines to provide crews and hold operational responsibility for the planes.

This model has come under scrutiny after a Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air crashed in Miami on September 6, killing five people on the ground. The investigation is examining the relationship between Amazon and 21 Air, including the oversight associated with flights performed within the Amazon network.

Amazon's cargo terms explicitly give the pilot in command employed by the carrier final authority over flight safety. However, critics argue that subcontracting its flying to multiple carriers could be a factor in its high accident rate.