Amazon Branded Jets Are Not Flown By Amazon

Amazon Air operates over 100 aircraft globally, but the company doesn't actually fly them. Instead, it contracts specialist cargo carriers to provide pilots, maintenance, and regulatory approvals.

The incident involving an Amazon-branded jet operated by 21 Air at Miami International Airport on September 6 highlights this aspect of Amazon's air cargo network. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the runway overrun, but no cause has been given.

Amazon launched its air freight service in the US in 2016 with a fleet of Boeing 767s and expanded rapidly. By 2022, its global network had grown to over 100 aircraft, with Boeing 737 freighters added for shorter routes and Boeing 767s for higher-capacity operations.

According to Amazon Air Cargo's website, it operates more than 250 daily flights worldwide. The company contracts carriers such as Air Transport International, ABX Air, Sun Country Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, ASL Airlines Ireland, QuikJet, and Cargojet to operate its aircraft.