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US-based tech and e-commerce giant Amazon, on Friday, expanded its dedicated air cargo network to Northeast India, launching new routes that the company says will significantly speed up deliveries across the region and improve market access for local sellers.
The expansion introduces air cargo connectivity between Kolkata and Guwahati, integrating the region more closely with Amazon’s national logistics network.
The service is expected to support deliveries across the seven Northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura — through a combination of air and surface transport.
Amazon said the addition of dedicated air capacity could improve delivery speeds in the region by up to five times, giving customers faster access to products ranging from daily essentials and smartphones to consumer electronics, fashion and beauty items.
The inaugural Amazon Air flight to Guwahati was flagged off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
The minister, while speaking at the event, highlighted the rapid expansion of aviation infrastructure in the Northeast and said, “Infrastructure and connectivity in the North-Eastern region have grown multifold." He added that every state in the region now has an airport, and the number of operational airports has increased from nine in 2014 to 16 today.
The minister also pointed to policy measures aimed at boosting air cargo growth, including investments in cargo infrastructure and warehousing in the Union Budget 2026 and the removal of the value cap on courier exports to encourage cross-border e-commerce.
Currently, Amazon operates around 10 flights a day across its air cargo network, but during major shopping events such as the Great Indian Festival, the number can rise sharply.
“During events such as The Great Indian Festival, it can go up to 200 flights a day,” said Abhinav Singh, vice president – operations for India and Australia at Amazon.
For local businesses, the improved logistics connectivity is expected to open up broader market access. State officials said faster fulfilment and reliable delivery infrastructure could help sellers in the region reach customers nationwide more efficiently.
“Since launching Amazon.in in 2013, we have consistently invested in building one of India’s largest logistics networks to serve customers wherever they live,” Singh said.
“For customers, this means access to Amazon’s vast selection at five times better speeds than before, while sellers and entrepreneurs in the Northeast can now reach customers across India faster and more reliably.”
Amazon Air launched in India in 2023 and currently operates with two narrow-body freighters, moving tens of thousands of packages daily. The network connects major metros including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Guwahati and Pune.
Apart from its dedicated cargo fleet, Amazon India also uses cargo capacity from other Indian airlines to support its logistics operations across the country.
The expansion introduces air cargo connectivity between Kolkata and Guwahati, integrating the region more closely with Amazon’s national logistics network.
The service is expected to support deliveries across the seven Northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura — through a combination of air and surface transport.
Amazon said the addition of dedicated air capacity could improve delivery speeds in the region by up to five times, giving customers faster access to products ranging from daily essentials and smartphones to consumer electronics, fashion and beauty items.
The inaugural Amazon Air flight to Guwahati was flagged off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
The minister, while speaking at the event, highlighted the rapid expansion of aviation infrastructure in the Northeast and said, “Infrastructure and connectivity in the North-Eastern region have grown multifold." He added that every state in the region now has an airport, and the number of operational airports has increased from nine in 2014 to 16 today.
The minister also pointed to policy measures aimed at boosting air cargo growth, including investments in cargo infrastructure and warehousing in the Union Budget 2026 and the removal of the value cap on courier exports to encourage cross-border e-commerce.
Currently, Amazon operates around 10 flights a day across its air cargo network, but during major shopping events such as the Great Indian Festival, the number can rise sharply.
“During events such as The Great Indian Festival, it can go up to 200 flights a day,” said Abhinav Singh, vice president – operations for India and Australia at Amazon.
For local businesses, the improved logistics connectivity is expected to open up broader market access. State officials said faster fulfilment and reliable delivery infrastructure could help sellers in the region reach customers nationwide more efficiently.
“Since launching Amazon.in in 2013, we have consistently invested in building one of India’s largest logistics networks to serve customers wherever they live,” Singh said.
“For customers, this means access to Amazon’s vast selection at five times better speeds than before, while sellers and entrepreneurs in the Northeast can now reach customers across India faster and more reliably.”
Amazon Air launched in India in 2023 and currently operates with two narrow-body freighters, moving tens of thousands of packages daily. The network connects major metros including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Guwahati and Pune.
Apart from its dedicated cargo fleet, Amazon India also uses cargo capacity from other Indian airlines to support its logistics operations across the country.














