Airlines

Amazon hires Hawaiian Air to fly rented Airbus cargo jets to replace older freighters

Hawaiian Airlines is the most recent passenger airline to fly for Amazon

Hawaiian Airlines is the most recent passenger airline to fly for Amazon, and it has been contracted to fly the first Airbus freight planes in the e-commerce giant’s air network, which will help replace older jets. According to a filing by the airline, Hawaiian will begin operating at least 10 Airbus A330-300 freighters for Amazon in the fall of 2023. Following the announcement, Hawaiian share prices increased by as much as 13% in early trading.

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In recent years, Amazon has grown its specialized air unit, whose operations are outsourced to a number of airlines, notably Atlas Worldwide Holdings and ATSG, which fly Boeing 767s for the firm, the aircraft with which Amazon started the air arm. The representative indicated that Amazon is currently determining which of the older jets would be phased out.

When travel demand fell early in the Covid pandemic in 2020, Sun Country, a leisure-focused airline, started flying converted Boeing 737 freighters for Amazon. During the pandemic, when consumer travel fell and port congestion drove up prices, air cargo was a hot area of aviation, but the industry has since cooled. Because of an increase in travel, more passenger belly plane capacity has entered the market, port congestion has decreased, and customer behavior has changed, lowering the cost of air cargo.

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As part of the deal, Hawaiian will issue warrants to Amazon that are exercisable over the course of the following nine years and allow Amazon to purchase up to 15% of Hawaiian shares. With other air cargo companies ATSG and Atlas, Amazon has similar agreements.

Amazon Air has signed a firm agreement to lease ten A330-300P2F freighters from Altavair, taking advantage of the A330’s capacity and economics to help fulfill its one-day delivery promise to Amazon Prime customers. The aircraft will be operated for Amazon by Hawaiian Airlines, which has had A330s as a key element of its fleet since 2010. The ten airframes are being converted from passenger aircraft to freighters by Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), the center of excellence for Airbus Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions.

Hawaiian announced that in order to support its Amazon flights, it will establish a pilot base in the United States’ interior and hire extra pilots, mechanics, and dispatchers.

While both A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft are eligible for conversion, the longer-fuselage A330-300P2F is particularly suited for integrators and express carriers, due to its high volumetric payload capability with lower-density cargo.

The A330P2F conversion program, launched in 2012, is a collaboration between ST Aerospace, Airbus, and their joint venture EFW.

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Related Topics:airbus amazon Cargo Hawaiian Air

Airlines

Air India to Launch aircraft maintenance training institute in Bengaluru

Air India, one of India’s leading global airlines, is set to establish a Basic Maintenance Training Organization (BMTO) in Bengaluru.

This institute will offer a comprehensive Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The program will follow an integrated 2+2 year structure, combining classroom learning with practical, hands-on training.

This initiative is part of Air India’s broader goal of creating a robust aviation ecosystem in India. With plans to expand its fleet and strengthen its operations, the airline aims to build a skilled workforce of maintenance engineers, making the organization self-reliant while supporting its ambitious transformation journey.

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To bring this vision to life, air india has partnered with Bengaluru Airport City Limited (BACL), a subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL). Together, they will develop a state-of-the-art facility spanning 86,000 square feet at Bengaluru Airport City.

This purpose-built campus will feature modern classrooms, well-equipped laboratories, and qualified trainers to deliver world-class education and training. The institute is expected to become operational by mid-2026.

The BMTO will be located close to Air India’s new 12-bay Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, also set to open in Bengaluru by early 2026. The AME program will begin with two years of academic coursework, followed by two years of practical training at the MRO, ensuring students receive hands-on experience adhering to industry standards.

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In the meantime, Air India has introduced a Cadet AME program in collaboration with reputable institutions in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

This ensures continuity in its commitment to developing skilled aircraft maintenance engineers while the BMTO facility is under construction. The program also allows students to pursue a bachelor’s degree through university partnerships, enhancing their career and academic opportunities.

With this initiative, air india plane aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in aircraft maintenance and engineering, air india new planes contributing to the development of India’s aviation sector and creating specialized career paths for aspiring engineers.