Daily cargo flights are set to commence, creating 50 new jobs in the process
Amazon Air touched down at Kansas City Airport (KCI) for the first time yesterday (May 13), after departing from Lakeland Linder International in Florida.
The journey – which took place using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft – is set to continue as a daily service.
Pat Klein, Kansas City director of aviation, believes Amazon Air “strengthens KCI’s impact as a regional economic engine”.
“We are grateful to the Amazon team’s commitment to Kansas City and look forward to a strong partnership,” he added.
The freight airline is expected to use 34,000 sq ft of space at the Missouri hub. This includes an onsite area for sorting packages, which will be managed by PrimeFlight Cargo, Amazon’s logistics partner.
More than 50 jobs are expected to be created for the site.
KCI’s operations coincide with the growing presence of Amazon in the region, highlighting the company’s commitment to growth within this area of the US.
“Growing the network of sites where Amazon Air flies is essential to supporting fast, free shipping for our customers,” explained Chris Preston, director of Amazon gateway operations. “Today, with Kansas City International Airport as part of our Amazon Air network, we are closer to our customers and can support fast shipping for the items they rely on. We are proud of the investments Amazon has made in the Kansas City region and look forward to continued growth.”
The carrier owns and leases a fleet of aircraft and works with third-party airlines to deliver packages. Since its launch in 2016, the company says it has invested millions of dollars whilst creating thousands of new jobs across the country.
