AMAZON BUYS PLANES FROM WESTJET TO EXPAND CARGO FLEET

Amazon.com Inc. is buying 11 used Boeing 767-300 planes, the first time the online retail giant has purchased, rather than leased, aircraft for its fast-growing air cargo operation. The company on Tuesday said it was buying seven aircraft from Delta Air Lines Inc. and four from WestJet Airlines Ltd. The WestJet aircraft are being converted from passenger to cargo use and will join Amazon's fleet this year. The Delta jets will start flying routes in 2022. Seattle-based Amazon has rapidly expanded its air cargo operations in recent years, part of an effort to speed up delivery of packages and supplement capacity from such carriers as United Parcel Service Inc. When Amazon announced the lease of 12 aircraft in June, the company said the move would take its fleet of leased planes to more than 80 aircraft.

Bloomberg