KCI Welcomes Its First Amazon Air Flight

Amazon Air touched down for the first time at Kansas City International Airport Thursday.

The first flight, on Amazon Air's branded 737-800 cargo aircraft, arrived from Lakeland Linder International Airport in Florida. Service will continue daily.

“The addition of Amazon Air at the airport strengthens KCI’s impact as a regional economic engine” said Kansas City Director of Aviation Pat Klein. “We are grateful to the Amazon team’s commitment to Kansas City and look forward to a strong partnership."

Through a partner lease agreement, Amazon Air will use 34,000 square feet of space at Kansas City International Airport. Amazon Air's newest gateway will include an onsite area to sort packages bound for their next destination and will be managed by an Amazon logistics partner, PrimeFlight Cargo. The site is expected to support more than 50 jobs.

“Growing the network of sites where Amazon Air flies is essential to supporting fast, free shipping for our customers,” said Chris Preston, Director, 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,” said Preston.

The air cargo operations at Kansas City International Airport complements operations already in place in the Kansas City region and shows Amazon’s commitment to continued growth in this area of the U.S.

Amazon Air plays a central role in delivering Amazon products for customers by transporting items across longer distances in shorter time frames. Amazon Air owns and leases a fleet of aircraft and works with third-party carriers to provide dedicated air cargo services for Amazon packages. Since Amazon Air’s launch in 2016, Amazon has invested hundreds of millions of dollars and created thousands of new jobs across the U.S.

The Kansas City Airport System is an Enterprise Fund Department of the City of Kansas City, Mo., and is supported wholly by airport user charges. No general fund tax revenues are used for the administration, promotion, operation, or maintenance of the airports in the system. Visit flykci.com for more information. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.