Amazon Air Cargo has grown from opportunistic beginnings into a core part of the company's operations, doubling its customer base in the year since launching services for third parties, reported London's Air Cargo News.

Vice president of Amazon Global Air Raoul Sreenivasan said the business started informally when external customers were impressed by speed and reliability. Positive feedback has continued, with a customer satisfaction score of 4.75 out of 5, and Amazon has introduced a no-bumping guarantee and money-back scheme of up to US$10,000 per flight for late deliveries.

Mr Sreenivasan noted that Amazon Air Cargo is no longer a side project but a core business. Investments include a digital booking tool and expanded fleet capacity timed for peak seasons. Sun Country Airlines deployed 20 Boeing 737-800 freighters for Amazon this year, while maintenance schedules and network design were adjusted to maximise capacity in November and December.

International expansion has been a focus, with Latin America described as the "big growth story." Collaborations include a daily Boeing 767-300 freighter with Avianca between Miami and Bogota and agreements with ALK Global Logistics and Aerodom for services to the Dominican Republic. Demand has also been strong between Europe and nearby regions and to the Indian subcontinent.

Amazon's network planning integrates both retail and cargo flows, using advanced tools to design optimal routes. The fleet now exceeds 100 aircraft, operating more than 250 daily flights across 65 destinations. Airbus A330-300 freighters have been added to modernise the fleet, offering greater capacity and lower costs, while the 767F remains the backbone of operations.

Mr Sreenivasan said future fleet decisions will be based on customer needs, with more 767Fs and A330Fs expected. Research has suggested reduced short-haul flying as larger aircraft enter service, but he stressed that network developments are driven by customer demand. "Everything we do is based on working backwards from the customers' requirements," he concluded.