Amazon Expands Air Network to Deliver Faster in Hawaii

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has taken a major step toward enhancing its delivery capabilities in Hawaii, rolling out next-day delivery service on Oahu made possible by the debut of a new late-night cargo flight. The development marks a milestone for the e-commerce giant, which had previously required at least two days to deliver most packages to the islands due to logistical constraints.

The new flight—part of Amazon’s private cargo fleet, Amazon Air—extends the cutoff time for mainland orders while maintaining next-day commitments for Hawaiian customers. The company currently operates multiple daily flights between the continental U.S. and Honolulu, using A330-300 widebody aircraft converted from passenger service.

The aircraft are operated by Alaska Airlines, which absorbed the contract from Hawaiian Airlines following its acquisition last year. The Federal Aviation Administration recently issued a single operating certificate for the merged airlines, streamlining operational procedures and integration.

According to Amazon representatives, demand in Honolulu has exceeded expectations since the launch of its delivery station more than a year ago, with over 3.5 million packages delivered since inception. The latest expansion demonstrates Amazon’s continued investment in regional infrastructure to strengthen its logistics dominance across remote U.S. territories.

Streamlining the Supply Chain and Backhaul Efficiency

Beyond retail logistics, Amazon’s air network is also being leveraged for broader cargo opportunities. The company’s one-year-old wholesale air cargo business, which sells unused airfreight capacity to third-party shippers, has begun transporting Maui Gold pineapples to the mainland in under 12 hours—a significant improvement in perishable goods transport.

The initiative reflects Amazon’s ability to repurpose its one-way B2C parcel routes for two-way commercial use, optimizing aircraft utilization. Most backhaul flights returning to logistics hubs are typically underloaded, offering a strategic opportunity to fill space while diversifying revenue streams.

Additionally, Air Premia, a South Korean passenger airline, signed a transport services agreement with Amazon Air in July. The partnership facilitates cargo transfers at Honolulu Airport, with shipments subsequently relayed to 45 U.S. cities through Amazon’s domestic air network. Latin American connectivity is also growing, with Avianca Cargo booking shipments from Colombia and the Dominican Republic to U.S. destinations via Amazon-operated flights.

This increased air mobility underscores Amazon’s evolution from an e-commerce company into a vertically integrated logistics powerhouse, competing directly with global freight operators.

New Warehouses Signal Broader Expansion

Amazon’s Hawaii ambitions go beyond air delivery. The company is reportedly planning a 42,000-square-foot distribution center in Līhuʻe, Kaua‘i, according to filings with local authorities. The project, led by Phoenix-based BH DevCo, covers 14.6 acres and is part of a business park development. While Amazon has not confirmed its involvement, multiple sources and documentation details point to its role in the project.

Simultaneously, on the U.S. mainland, Amazon continues expanding its footprint with a 3.2 million-square-foot fulfillment center under construction in Connecticut. Expected to handle up to 800,000 parcels per day, the facility will be the company’s seventh major logistics site in the state, further reinforcing Amazon’s commitment to operational scale and regional accessibility.

A Strategic Step Toward Full Geographic Reach

Amazon’s introduction of next-day delivery in Hawaii marks a critical step in its pursuit of universal fulfillment capabilities—a key competitive advantage against rivals like Walmart and Target. By integrating late-night cargo operations, regional partnerships, and expanded warehousing, Amazon is effectively closing one of the few remaining logistical gaps in its U.S. network.

Looking ahead, analysts expect Amazon to continue using its air freight capacity and local infrastructure to deepen last-mile delivery capabilities in remote markets. The company’s multi-pronged approach—combining air, sea, and ground logistics—positions it to further redefine delivery speed and accessibility, even in traditionally challenging geographies like the Pacific Islands.