Originally Posted by
nitefr8dog
The real issue why Amazon decided to reduce reliance on FedEx/UPS started not only because of weather.....but saturation at peak. When this happened at peak Fedex and UPS made a decision to only move Fedex and UPS freight and push Amazon freight off into the weeds. Weather may have played a part in that...but the decision to move only their branded freight was the catalyst for Amazon to start moving their own freight via aircraft and invest in 2 airlines. Also with domestic Amazon freight ...electronic vision and HUDs would be rarely used and would not help at all for landing on a snow/ice covered runway or severe weather over the airport.
The problem is Amazon wanted way more space than what FedEx could provide. Then the wanted X number of airplanes dedicated solely to Amazon peak. FedEx didn’t have a spare X of airplanes to dedicate to Amazon for only peak.
Then — and this is key — Amazon sold well above what they contracted for and the blamed FedEx and UPS for not being able to deliver. That’s a bunch of BS.
Even as of last year I saw Amazon commercials late on the 23rd guaranteeing delivery by Christmas. Impossible.
Amazon promised too much to too many people and then sold out FedEx and UPS. While both had some service problems, FedEx’s was very minor, Amazon three then under the bus.
The problem is you can’t staff an airline only for peak. When peak comes, there isn’t enough planes and crews available.
When I worked at previous company, CVG ran out of deicing fluid twice. It will be interesting to see who Amazon blames when CVG gets weathered out during the holidays.