Amazon reveals its first Airbus A330 freighter
E-commerce giant Amazon unveiled its first Airbus A330-300 freighter. The aircraft is part of an agreement that includes ten jets converted to the A330P2F standard and which was announced in 2022.
The first commercial flight of the aircraft registration number N4621K took place on October 2, between Cincinnati and San Bernardino, California.
The new planes will be Amazon Prime Air's largest, surpassing the Boeing 767-300F that currently forms the basis of the company's fleet.
According to official data, the A330-300P2F can carry up to 63 tons of cargo compared to 58 tons for the Boeing rival. Because Amazon transports packages, the payload is generally lower.
Amazon's ten A330s are leased by Altavair and supported by Hawaiian Airlines, which provides maintenance and flight crews.
The A330-300 N4621K aircraft was originally manufactured for Hong Kong Airlines just five years ago, but was not delivered.
Airbus kept it in storage until June, when it was converted to a freighter and sold to Altavair.
Amazon Prime Air was launched in 2016 to expand the company's package transport capacity and speed up deliveries.
Currently, the airline's fleet comprises 94 aircraft, including 58 Boeing 767-300F, 30 737-800F and five ATR 72 turboprops, in addition to the first A330P2F.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCTb7fcPhqU
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