Amazon makes its move

At last, the worst kept secret in the US freighter sector is in the open.

Internet giant Amazon has signed a deal with US lessor ATSG for up to 20 freighters to operate a network in the US.

In an investors’ conference call, ATSG referred all operational questions back to Amazon, which no doubt sent UPS and FedEx executives scrambling for the telephone.

ATSG said that longstanding client DHL, another parcel titan, had been advised about the deal but the freighter lessor did not need to seek its prior approval.

Senior executives did, however, speak of potential synergies, with ATSG as a “neutral” partner.

We await with interest, to see if a similar deal crosses the Atlantic.

Watch this space.