An Amazon Air flight arrived at Mobile International Airport just after 2:30 a.m. Thursday, the start of regular service, making Mobile the first Alabama station on Amazon’s high-speed airborne cargo network.

According to information released Thursday by the Mobile Airport Authority, Amazon Air will operate daily between Mobile and Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, a regional hub for the service. Amazon air flies to more than 50 airports across the United States and operates in Europe as well.

“We are excited to expand Amazon Air to Mobile, providing customers throughout Alabama and the surrounding region faster shipping speeds,” said Chris Preston, Director of Amazon Air Gateway Operations. “Amazon continues to invest and grow in Alabama, and this new gateway ensures we can deliver on our customer promise of fast, reliable deliveries.”

Amazon has described the air cargo portion of its shipping network as “a critical conduit for delivering packages across longer distances.” Amazon Air has grown rapidly in the last five years and has begun to purchase its own planes after relying on leases. Its flights reportedly increased by almost 35% in 2021 alone, one of several statistics showing much faster growth than FedEx and UPS. It remains smaller than those services but is seen by some as a rising competitor.

“Amazon Air is an exciting addition to the Mobile International Airport,” said Chris Curry, Mobile Airport Authority President. “The daily cargo service will strengthen BFM’s impact as a regional transportation hub. We are grateful to the Amazon team’s commitment to Mobile and look forward to a strong partnership.”

At Brookley, Amazon Air will lease a 16,000-square-foot area to sort and load Amazon packages. The company already operates a sortation center a few miles to the west, with Interstate 10 providing a direct connection from the airport.

“Air logistics are now a major part of America’s economic system. Speed and efficiency in product distribution and delivery are the future. This new Amazon program underscores the transition of Mobile into one of America’s most unique and aggressive multi-modal transportation hubs, encompassing land, sea, rail and air modalities,” said Michael Boyd of Boyd Group International.

Plans are well under way to build a new international terminal at Mobile’s Brookley Field so that commercial passenger service can be shifted there from Mobile Regional Airport. Construction is expected to start early next year. In April, the Mobile Airport Authority board voted to change the name of Brookley Downtown Airport to Mobile International Airport.

“In order to have the stature, you’ve got to take the posture,” board chair Elliot Maisel said of the name change.

Curry said at the time that the new facility would have the capability to handle both international cargo and international passengers, which he said will distinguish it from other facilities in the region.