Pittsburgh International Airport is now part of Amazon’s U.S. cargo network.
The first flight landed at the airport last night.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald telling Marty Griffin on NewsRadio KDKA that he was there this morning for the first departure when a Boeing 737-800F freighter left the airport packed with cargo.
"And I was out there, first thing this morning - a little after 7 o'clock - as they were loading the very first plane that Prime Air, which is Amazon's air fleet, picks Pittsburgh as a hub," said Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald says Amazon has already hired 70 workers for the site.
According to Blue Sky News, Pittsburgh International Airport's publication, Amazon's 50,000 square foot facility at the airport will have include space for sorting packages headed to another destination.
“We are excited that Amazon is continuing its investment in the region with the addition of Amazon Air operations at our airport,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis told the publication. “We welcome Amazon Air and look forward to building our partnership. This announcement is a major milestone in positioning PIT as an international logistics center.”
Amazon Air flies to over 40 airports in the U.S.
“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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh region and look forward to continued growth.”
The move marks the online retailer's largest expansion in the region and will see daily flights in and out of Pittsburgh.
