Amazon expands its air delivery fleet after buying 11 new planes

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) air cargo ambitions are taking a new flight path after the e-commerce giant announced it was buying, not leasing, 11 used Boeing aircraft from Delta Air Lines and WestJet Airlines.

The purchase marks the first time Amazon has not leased any airplanes for its Prime fleet. It expects to have 85 planes in service by the end of next year.

On a wing and a prayer

Amazon leases most of its cargo aircraft through Air Transport Services Group, which provides the fleet with 767s, and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, which supplies 737s and 767s. Amazon has taken an ownership stake in both companies.

It…