WICHITA —Amazon Air launched daily cargo service at the Wichita Eisenhower National Airport with an inaugural flight arriving shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday and flying out just after 5a.m. Friday, according to a media release from FlyWichita.com.
This is Amazon Air’s first regional gateway in Kansas to support fast, efficient package deliveries to Amazon customers throughout the region and country.
Amazon Air flights will be operated by Silver Airways using an ATR72-500 aircraft and operate daily between Wichita and Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW).
The Wichita Airport Authority leased 10,691 square feet in the air cargo terminal to Trego-Dugan Aviation who is contracted to sort and load Amazon packages bound for their next destination. PrimeFlight Aviation will also lease 1,470 square feet to provide deicing services. Amazon Air’s newest regional gateway joins two investment sites already in the Wichita area, including a one million square foot fulfillment center in Park City and a 140,000 square foot delivery station in northeast Wichita.
“We are proud to welcome Amazon Air to Wichita Eisenhower Airport,” said Jesse Romo, Director of Airports, Wichita Airport Authority. “This location is uniquely positioned with convenient access to Hwy 54/400 and Interstate 235 to support Amazon’s delivers to customers in Kansas and surrounding areas.”
“This is an exciting expansion for Amazon Air that will provide greater capacity for shipping packages to our valued customers throughout the Wichita area and central Kansas,” said Chris Preston, Director of Amazon Air Gateway Operations. “We are thrilled with Amazon’s continued investment in Kansas and look forward to continued growth to meet our customer needs.”
Amazon has created more than 8,000 jobs and invested more than $4 billion in Kansas over the past decade, including infrastructure and compensation to employees. Amazon’s investments have contributed an additional $3 billion in GDP to the Kansas economy thus far.