Amazon Air to get its first Airbus jets with ten A330-300s on lease from Altavair

Altavair L.P. (Altavair), an asset manager focusing on the acquisition of new and used commercial aircraft for leasing to domestic and international passenger airlines and cargo operators, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Amazon Air for the lease of ten Airbus A330-300 jets.

The aircraft are due to commence delivery in late 2023 after conversion to freighter operations at Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH, a joint venture between ST Engineering Aerospace and Airbus. The aircraft are owned by funds and accounts managed by KKR, with Altavair acting as lease servicer.

These aircraft represent the first Airbus aircraft to be operated by Amazon Air since the cargo operator’s inception in 2015, operating as Amazon Prime Air. Up until now the fleet of the online retailer’s subsidiary has been comprised of predominantly Boeing freighter-converted jets including 26 737-800s, 12 767-200s and 54 767-300ERs. Amazon Air also operates five ATR 72-500F twin-engine turboprop aircraft.

Amazon Air is responsible for transporting packages solely for its parent company Amazon and has hubs at Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International airport, Fort Worth Alliance Airport, and San Bernardino Airport all in the U.S.A., and Leipzig / Halle Airport in Germany.