Amazon Air_LEJ

Absolutely brilliant long read from Wired on how Amazon created its own airline from scratch. As is often the case, it was born out of crisis – its main air carriers, FedEx and UPS, appeared unable to guarantee delivery of a huge consignment of Amazon Kindles to its Seattle distribution facility in time for the 2014 Christmas shopping bonanza. In response, Amazon developed a plan modelled on DHL’s approach to running its North American operations, which largely relies on joint-ventures or outsourcing, via ACMI contracts and to US cargo operations.

“It seemed as if the sentiment was leaning toward acquisition until [Amazon boss Jeff] Bezos spoke – last, as he typically did in these meetings so as not to inhibit discussion. “Planes are planes,” an employee recalls him saying. “What are we going to do to differentiate?” This was a Bezos maxim. He preferred to spend Amazon’s prodigious resources on initiatives where the company would not only be profitable, but disruptive.”

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  • Ivan Kozlov

    December 07, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    Indeed interesting read, thanks for sharing