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How to pack a Prime plane

1 min
Amazon’s Prime Air planes work on customers’ behalf to fulfill our one-day delivery promise to Prime members.

There’s a lot that goes into packing an Amazon Prime Air plane before it leaves the ground. This step-by-step process of packing the plane is a well-choreographed display of planning, teamwork, and execution. Take a look as Amazon takes you behind the scenes of just one part of what happens from the moment a customer makes a purchase on Amazon.

PAGE OVERVIEW
Amazon trailer arrival at airport
  • TABLE OF CONTENTS
    Amazon trailer arrival at airport
  • Amazon trailer arrival at airport
  • Amazon boxes sorted
  • Packing containers
  • Loading the plane
  • On the way to you
Amazon’s Prime Air planes work on customers’ behalf to fulfill our one-day delivery promise to Prime members.

There’s a lot that goes into packing an Amazon Prime Air plane before it leaves the ground. This step-by-step process of packing the plane is a well-choreographed display of planning, teamwork, and execution. Take a look as Amazon takes you behind the scenes of just one part of what happens from the moment a customer makes a purchase on Amazon.

  • 01
    Amazon trailer arrival at airport

    An Amazon trailer arrives at the airport carrying more than 2,000 Amazon boxes – each box is part of a Prime member’s order.

    Amazon trailer arrives at the airport carrying more than 2,000 Amazon boxes – each box is part of a Prime member’s order.
     
    Photo by JORDAN STEAD / Amazon
  • 02
    Amazon boxes sorted

    Within minutes of arriving at the airport, Amazon boxes are unloaded and sorted to ensure an on-time departure.

    Amazon boxes being sorted.
     
    Photo by JORDAN STEAD / Amazon
  • 03
    Packing containers

    Packages are placed into containers known as Unit Load Devices (ULDs) that are designed to maximize space and to fit perfectly inside Prime Air planes. Each ULD can hold hundreds of packages and help to ensure the one-day delivery promise to Prime members across the country.

    Packing a Prime plane - silver container full of boxes.
     
    Photo by JORDAN STEAD / Amazon
  • 04
    Loading the plane

    The silver containers are then brought to the aircraft and loaded onto a lift that raises them to the cargo bay. From there, the containers are pushed into position within the plane and secured. Each Amazon Prime Air plane can hold 30 or more containers, which is the equivalent of over one million Echo Dots, 10,000 Instant Pots, or 5,000 teddy bears.

    Silver containers being loaded onto a lift that raises them to the cargo bay.
     
    Photo by JORDAN STEAD / Amazon
  • 05
    On the way to you

    Packages are now on their way to customers’ doorsteps. This entire process takes only a few hours. Amazon Prime Air planes are one more example of how Amazon works to be the world’s most customer-centric company.

    Prime Air plane in flight
     
    Photo by JORDAN STEAD / Amazon
  • PAGE OVERVIEW
  • 1
    Amazon trailer arrival at airport
  • 2
    Amazon boxes sorted
  • 3
    Packing containers
  • 4
    Loading the plane
  • 5
    On the way to you
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