Who does Amazon buy planes from?

In January 2021, with passenger air traffic severely depressed and cargo traffic higher due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon announced it had completed the purchase of 11 Boeing 767-300s from Delta Air Lines and WestJet.



Amazon Air typically does not "buy" new planes directly from manufacturers like Boeing or Airbus in the same way a commercial airline does. Instead, they primarily acquire pre-owned passenger aircraft and have them converted into freighters. A large portion of their fleet consists of Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 737-800 aircraft purchased from airlines like Delta, WestJet, and United. Once purchased, these planes undergo a "Passenger-to-Freighter" (P2F) conversion where seats are removed, floors are reinforced, and large cargo doors are installed. Amazon has also leased a significant number of aircraft from specialized leasing companies like Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) and Atlas Air Worldwide. In 2026, Amazon has also expanded its partnership with Hawaiian Airlines to operate a fleet of newer Airbus A330-300P2F freighters. This strategy of buying and converting used airframes allows Amazon to rapidly scale its logistics network at a lower capital cost than purchasing brand-new "purpose-built" freighters from the factory.

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